BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of infant accessories and more specifically relates to an infant chair insert accessory.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] Children sitting in a shopping cart or high chair seat may be at risk for falling out of the seat, especially if the child is undersized. Infants and toddlers can contract infectious germs and bacteria while sitting in public seats, leading to parents having to take them to a doctor, administer medication, etc. Without a way to secure and sanitize public seats for children, parents may be wary of taking their children to a grocery store or restaurant. A suitable solution is desired.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,388 to Sherry R. Hime relates to a transportable seat insert especially adapted for infants. The described transportable seat insert especially adapted for infants includes a transportable, machine washable, collapsible, compact, lightweight seat insert for supporting a human in a sitting position. The insert includes a box shaped, flexible, resilient, padded frame including a back wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, and a front wall having a pair of openings for accommodating the human's legs. The seat insert further includes a pillow adapted to be selectively disposed above and adjacent to the back wall and attached to the back wall by means of VELCRO fasteners.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known infant accessory art, the present disclosure provides a novel infant chair insert. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a soft collapsible child seat insert for shopping carts and high chairs designed to offer additional comfort and support for an infant. The child seat insert may offer a more sanitary option for parents/guardians when placing children into public seats. Further, the child seat insert may fold for transportation, ensuring the same can fit inside a backpack, baby bag, etc.

[0006] A portable chair is disclosed herein. The portable chair includes a seat-panel which may be configured for placement over the seat of the structure-frame. A first side- panel may be included and may extend upwardly from the seat-panel at a first-side of the seat-panel. Similarly, a second side-panel may be included and may extend upwardly from the seat-panel at a second-side of the seat-panel; the second side-panel being opposite the first side-panel. Further, a rear-panel may be included and may extend upwardly from the seat- panel at a rear of the seat-panel, the rear-panel may be configured to rest against the rear support-section of the structure-frame. In addition, a front-panel may be included. The front- panel may include a horizonal-length and a vertical-length extending from a mid-section of the horizontal-length. The horizonal-length may be attached to the first side-panel at a first horizontal-end and attached to the second side-panel at a second horizontal-end. [0007] The vertical-length may be attached to the mid-section of the horizontal-length at a first vertical-end and attached to the seat-panel at a second vertical-end. Further, the horizontal-length and the vertical-length may together define leg-openings configured to allow legs of the user (occupant) to extend therethrough. In addition to this, the horizontal- length may include at least one attachment-means configured to attach the front-panel to the front support- section of the frame-structure.

[0008] A method of using portable chair is also disclosed herein. The method of using portable chair may comprise the steps of: providing the portable chair as above; placing the seat-panel over the seat of the structure-frame; attaching the front-panel to the front support- section via the at least one attachment- means; and securing a user (occupant) within the portable chair.

[0009] For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00010] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an infant chair insert, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[00011] FIG. 1A is a side-rear perspective view of the portable chair during an‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[00012] FIG. IB is a side-front perspective view of the portable chair during an‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[00013] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the portable chair of FIG. IB, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00014] FIG. 2B is a side-rear perspective view of the portable chair of FIG. IB, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00015] FIG. 3 is a side-rear perspective view of the portable chair of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00016] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the portable chair, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00017] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00018] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to infant accessories and more particularly to an infant chair insert as used to improve comfort and infant chair insert accessory use.

[00019] Generally disclosed is an infant chair insert. The infant chair insert may resemble a booster seat with sides extending up below a child’s arms, providing support and ensuring the child does not fall out the sides of the chair. The infant chair insert may utilize two front straps designed to wrap around a bar on a shopping cart or high chair for optimal securement, preventing the insert from falling out of the chair.

[00020] The infant chair insert may include pockets for storing small personal items, child’s toys, bottles, sippy cups, and more. A protective strap may also be applied, allowing for additional protection against germs and bacteria commonly present on public seats. The seat may be made from nylon/polyester/organic cotton and foam material and include a webbing strap to secure the baby to the seat. The seat may further be collapsible. Further to this, a strap may be included at a top of the infant chair insert to attach the infant chair insert to the shopping cart or high chair. In addition, ties may be included each side of the infant chair insert to further secure the infant chair insert to the shopping cart or high chair. Loops may also be added to the protective strap in order to attach rattles/toys.

[00021] The side mesh pockets may or may not also be made of material/organic material and may include zipper/buttons to close. The infant chair insert may also include a detachable coin purse/clutch to fit inside pocket(s). Exact size, measurement, construction, and design specifications may vary upon manufacturing. Parents may unfold the infant chair insert and place it within the shopping cart or the high chair. The child may then be placed within the insert and secured using the webbing strap. The seat may be intended to accommodate children from 4-24 months, keeping him/her safe and giving a parent/guardian peace of mind while shopping, in a restaurant, and more.

[00022] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1A-3, various views of a portable chair 100.

[00023] FIGS. 1A-1B show a portable chair 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The portable chair 100 may be used for insertion into a user supporting-structure 5. The user supporting-structure 5 may include a structure-frame 10 having a seat 15, a front support-section 20 and a rear support-section 25. The front support-section 20 and the rear-support section 25 being relative to the user when the user is seated within the user supporting-structure 5. As shown in FIG. 1A, the user supporting-structure 5 may be a shopping cart. In alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. IB, the user supporting-structure 5 may be a high chair. As illustrated, the portable chair 100 may include a seat-panel 110, a first side-panel 120, a second side-panel 130, a rear-panel 140 and a front-panel 150.

[00024] FIGS. 2A-2B show front and side -rear perspective views of the portable chair 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The seat-panel 110 may be configured for placement over the seat 15 (FIGS. 1A-1B) of the structure-frame 10. The first side-panel 120 may extend upwardly from the seat-panel 110 at a first-side 111 of the seat- panel 110, and similarly, the second side -panel 130 may extend upwardly from the seat-panel 110 at a second-side 112 of the seat-panel 110. As shown, the second side-panel 130 may be opposite the first side -panel 120. As shown, the first side-panel 120 may include a first storage means 132, and similarly, the second side-panel 130 includes a second storage means 134. Preferably, the first storage means 132 and the second storage means 134 is a first pocket and a second pocket, respectively. Further, a rear-panel 140 may extend upwardly from the seat-panel 110 at a rear 113 of the seat-panel 110. As shown, the rear-panel 140 may be configured to rest against the rear support- section 25 (FIGS. 1A-1B) of the structure- frame 10.

[00025] In addition, a harness means 166 may be provided on the portable chair 100. The harness means 166 may be configured to secure a user to the portable chair 100. In one embodiment, the harness means 166 may include two arm straps. In another embodiment, the harness means 166 may include one single strap configured to secure around a waist of the user.

[00026] Preferably, the seat-panel 110, the first side-panel 120, the second side -panel 130, the rear-panel 140 and the front-panel 150 may include padding to further protect and increase comfort for the user. In one embodiment, the padding may comprise a foam material. Other padding materials are contemplated. Examples include wool, polyester fiber, etc. The padding may be covered by a material which may be comfortable and easily washable. Examples of the material may be nylon, polyester, cotton, etc.

[00027] The front-panel 150 may include a horizonal-length 151 and a vertical-length 152 extending from a mid-section 153 of the horizontal-length 151. The horizonal-length 151 may be attached to the first side-panel 120 at a first horizontal-end 154 and attached to the second side -panel 130 at a second horizontal-end 155. The vertical-length 152 may be attached to the mid-section 153 of the horizontal-length 151 at a first vertical-end 156 and attached to the seat-panel 110 at a second vertical-end 157. The horizontal-length 151 and the vertical-length 152 together may define leg-openings 158 configured to allow legs of the user to extend therethrough.

[00028] Further, the horizontal-length 151 may include at least one attachment-means 159 configured to attach the front-panel 150 to the front support-section 20 of the structure-frame 10. In addition to this, the horizontal-length 151 may include at least one flap 162 configured to attach the front-panel 150 to the front support-section 20. Preferably, the at least one flap 162 may include hook and loop fastener. However, other fasteners are contemplated, such as snap fasteners, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, etc. In addition, as shown, the at least one flap 162 may comprise exactly two flaps 162.

[00029] FIG. 3 shows a side-rear perspective view of the portable chair 100 of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown here, a first fastener 163 may be attached to the first side-panel 120 and configured to attach the first side-panel 120 to the user supporting-structure 5. Similarly, a second fastener 164 may be attached to the second side-panel 130 and configured to attach the second side-panel 130 to the user supporting-structure 5. Preferably, the first fastener 163 and the second fastener 164 may be a first tie and a second tie, respectively. In this embodiment, the first fastener 163 may be attached to the first side -panel 120 and may tie the first side-panel 120 to the user supporting- structure 5. Likewise, the second fastener 164 may be attached to the second side-panel 130 and may tie the second side -panel 130 to the user supporting-structure 5. As shown here, the first fastener 163 and the second fastener 164 may attach the first side-panel 120 and the second side-panel 130 to the rear support-section

[00030] Further, as shown, a third fastener 165 may be attached to the rear-panel 140 of the portable chair 100. In one embodiment, the third fastener 165 may be a strap. The strap may include hook and loop fastener to attach the rear-panel 140 to the rear support-section 25. It should be appreciated that other fasteners are contemplated for the first fastener 163, the second fastener 164 and the third fastener 165.

[00031] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a portable chair 400, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using a portable chair 400 may include the steps of: providing 401 the portable chair as above; placing 402 the seat-panel over the seat of the structure-frame; attaching 403 the front-panel to the front support-section via the at least one attachment- means; and securing 404 a user within the portable chair.

[00032] It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of’ should not be interpreted as“step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for portable chair 100 (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

[00033] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.