WO2004034854A1

WO2004034854A1 - A child restraint

Info

Publication number: WO2004034854A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000511
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suzanne Wendy Belramoul
Original assignee: Suzanne Wendy Belramoul
Priority date: 2002-10-14
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2004-04-29
Also published as: AU2002952108A0

Abstract

The invention provides a child restraint (1) including a base (2) having a support surface (3) engageable with a bearing surface (4) of a child seat (5). Securing means (6) are provided for releasably securing the seat (5) and the base (2) in more than one configuration with respect to each other. The seat (5) is securable to the base in both a forward facing configuration and a rear facing configuration. This feature allows the seat to be safely used as a child car restraint for children weighing up to 18 kg, including newborns. The seat is also reclinable with respect to the base and securable in any one of a plurality of preselected reclined positions.

Description

TITLE: A CHILD RESTRAINT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to child safety devices and more particularly to a multifunctional child restraint. It has been designed to be mountable to, among other things, a vehicle seat, a pram frame and a high chair, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The following discussion of the prior art is intended to present the invention in an appropriate technical context and to allow its significance to be properly appreciated. Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, however, reference to any prior art in this specification should not be construed as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

The invention falls within the category of child safety devices suitable for younger children weighing up to 18kg. More specifically, the invention concerns devices including a shell and carrying handle, permitting multiple functions, such as carriage outside of a vehicle or use as a bouncer cradle.

These devices are commonly directly attached to the car seat by means of a seat belt. Attachment and detachment requires repeated operations upon each entry and exit of the child into and out of the vehicle, with all the risks involved with repeated execution of the safety adjustments.

At present, these devices are known to be associated with a second element called a "base-plate", in order to alleviate the problem outlined above. The base- plate is fixed to the vehicle seat by means of the seat belt and remains there. On each entry and exit into and out of the vehicle, the shell is then docked and locked on the base-plate. A strap of the seat belt is sometimes wrapped around the shell to assist securing of the shell to the base-plate.

The major disadvantage with these safety devices lies in the repeated, and not always easy, handling involved in the installation of the device inside the vehicle, whether it is accompanied by a base-plate or not. Without the base-plate, the device is in fact secured to the vehicle seat directly by the seat belt, which requires accurate positioning to secure the device effectively. Accordingly, the safety of the child depends on a daily gesture that requires particularly careful attention on the part of the operator. Furthermore, the routing of the strap is not always easily accessible and sometimes requires substantial effort to install the device.

On the other hand, devices fitted with a base-plate provide easier and more reliable installation. This arises because the base plate is required to be attached to the vehicle seat only the first time the device is used.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty patent application WO 98/23462 describes a device permitting the rotation of the portable element relative to the base-plate. The base-plate of the device is equipped with a complex mechanism to lock the portable element vertically rotationally when it is positioned in a particular direction. Locking is performed by horizontal bars, which are inserted in apertures located on the periphery of the support plate on the portable element. Locking is only possible when the horizontal bars are in front of the apertures of the portable element. Bright coloured tips on the bars allow visual check that the portable element is effectively locked onto the baseplate. Unlocking is achieved by a handle operable on the locking mechanism.

Operators of child safety devices expect both safety and ease of use. Therefore, the presence of an unlocking handle, a visual check of the lock, and the adjustment of the rotation of the portable element all serve to complicate the use of the device proposed in document WO 98/23462. Furthermore, the execution of these mechanical parts often causes jolts capable of disturbing the child. Finally, the complexity of the mechanism of the device does not ensure reliable performance over the long term.

In addition to the above drawbacks, some prior art devices, such as that disclosed in CA 2,000,178, only permit the seat to be removed from the base plate in some distinct angles of reclination of the seat with respect to the base. Accordingly, the seat has to be reclined or raised to the appropriate position before it can be removed from the base.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a child restraint including: a base having a support surface; and a child seat having a bearing surface engageable with said support surface, the seat being removable from the base; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each other.

Preferably, the seat is securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees. More preferably, the seat is reclinable with respect to the base. Even more preferably, the seat is securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions. Preferably, the support surface and the bearing surface are arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

Preferably, the base includes a recessed track defined by a pair of sidewalls interconnected by the support surface. More preferably, the seat includes a projecting rail complementary to and slidably engageable with the track. Even more preferably, the base includes a plurality of notches spaced along the sidewalls, each notch corresponding with one of the reclined positions.

In a preferred form, the securing means includes a retractable bolt selectively engageable with the notches for locking the seat in any preselected one of the reclined positions. More preferably, the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with the notches. Even more preferably, the securing means includes a plurality of the bolts.

Preferably, the restraint includes a carrying handle. More preferably, the handle includes a pair of arms interconnected by a cross-bar, the arms being adapted for connection to opposite outer sides of the seat.

Preferably, the seat includes a recess on each of its opposite outer sides, the recesses being engageable by the terminal ends of the arms to connect the handle to the seat. More preferably, the terminal ends are resiliently biased into engagement with the recesses.

Preferably, the handle is rotatably connected to the seat. More preferably, the handle is lockable to the seat in any preselected one of a plurality of angular configurations. Even more preferably, the handle is removably connected to the seat. Preferably, the restraint is adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle. In another embodiment, the restraint is adapted for securing to a pram frame. In a still further embodiment, the restraint is adapted for securing to a child's high chair. Most preferably, the restraint is adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a base for a child restraint, said base being removable from the seat and including: a support surface for supporting a child seat; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each another.

Preferably, the seat is securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees. More preferably, the seat is reclinable with respect to the base. Even more preferably, the seat is securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions. Preferably, the support surface is arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

Preferably, the base includes a recessed track defined by a pair of sidewalls interconnected by the support surface. More preferably, the seat includes a projecting rail complementary to and slidably engageable with the track. In a preferred form, the securing means includes a plurality of notches spaced along the sidewalls, each notch corresponding with one of the reclined positions. More preferably, the seat includes a retractable bolt selectively engageable with the notches for locking the seat in any preselected one of the reclined positions. Even more preferably, the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with the notches. In a particularly preferred form, the seat includes a plurality of the bolts.

Preferably, the base is adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle. In another embodiment, the base is adapted for incorporation into a pram frame. In a still further embodiment, the base is adapted for incorporation into a child's high chair. Most preferably, the base is adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair. According to a third aspect, the invention provides a seat for a child restraint, said seat being adapted for use with a complementary base and being removable from the base, the seat including: a bearing surface engageable with the base; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each another.

Preferably, the seat is securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees. More preferably, the seat is reclinable with respect to the base. Even more preferably, the seat is securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions.

Preferably, the bearing surface is arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

Preferably, the securing means include a retractable bolt selectively engageable with the base for locking the seat in any preselected one of the reclined positions. More preferably, the bolt is slidably mounted in a bore in the rail. Even more preferably, the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with the notches. In a particularly preferred form, the securing means includes a plurality of the bolts.

Preferably, the seat includes a carrying handle. More preferably, the handle includes a pair of arms interconnected by a cross-bar, the arms being adapted for connection to opposite outer sides of the seat.

Preferably, the seat includes a recess on each of its opposite outer sides, the recesses being engageable by the terminal ends of the arms to connect the handle to the seat. More preferably, the terminal ends are resiliently biased into engagement with the recesses. Preferably, the handle is rotatably connectable to the seat. More preferably, the handle is lockable to the seat in any preselected one of a plurality of angular configurations. Even more preferably, the handle is removably connected to the seat.

Preferably, the seat is adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle. In another embodiment, the seat is adapted for securing to a pram frame. In a still further embodiment, the seat is adapted for securing to a child's high chair. Most preferably, the seat is adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child restraint in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an underside perspective view of the restraint of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the restraint of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of the restraint of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top view of the restraint of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the restraint of Figure 1 shown attached to a vehicle seat in a forward facing configuration;

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the restraint of Figure 1 shown attached to a vehicle seat in a rear facing configuration;

Figure 8 is a top view of a scissor mechanism for operating the retractable bolts;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the base;

Figure 10 is a side view of the base of Figure 9 shown connected to a complementary seat; Figure 11 is a lower perspective view of the base of Figure 9 shown connected to the seat;

Figure 12 is an underside view of the base of Figure 9 shown connected to the seat;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 9 shown engaged with a pram frame;

Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 13 shown with the seat attached to the base;

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the restraint shown supported on a floor surface;

Figure 16 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the restraint, showing the support bar in an operative position; and

Figure 17 is a rear perspective view of the restraint of Figure 16, showing the support bar in a stowed configuration.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the child restraint 1 includes a base 2 having a support surface 3 engageable with a bearing surface 4 of a child seat 5. Securing means 6 are provided for releasably securing the seat 5 and the base 2 in more than one configuration with respect to each another.

The seat 5 is securable to the base in both a forward facing configuration as shown in Figure 6 and a rear facing configuration as shown in Figure 7. This feature allows the seat to be safely used as a child car restraint for children weighing up to 18kg, including newborns. The seat is also reclinable with respect to the base and securable in any one of a plurality of preselected reclined positions as shown in Figure 4.

The base 2 includes a recessed track 7 complementary to and slidably engageable by a rail 8 extending from the seat. A plurality of notches 9 are provided adjacent the track, each notch corresponding with one of the reclined positions. The seat includes two pairs of retractable bolts 10 and 11 spaced apart along the rail 8. The bolts are selectively engageable with the notches 9 for locking the seat in one of the reclined positions. In this embodiment, the bolts are hingedly connected to opposite ends of a pair of centrally hingedly connected lever arms 12, as shown in Figure 8, and are resiliently biased by a spring (not shown) into engagement with the notches 9. The lever arms 12 are housed within a recess 13 in the track 7.

In other embodiments (not shown), the retractable bolts are mounted on the base 2 and are engageable with notches on the rail 8.

The support surface 3 and the bearing surface 4 are both arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

In use, the base 2 is secured to a seat 14 of a passenger vehicle by passing a seat belt 15 through an aperture 16 in the base, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7. The child seat 5 is connected to the base by aligning the rail 8 with the track 7, retracting the bolts 10 and 11, lowering the seat with respect to the base until the bearing surface has engaged with the support surface, and finally releasing the bolts into engagement with the notches 9.

An unlocking handle 17 is connected to the lever arms 12 via a pair of collapsing members 18 to allow the bolts to be manually retracted. Pulling the handle 17 collapses the lever arms to simultaneously retract all of the bolts. This retraction of the bolts allows the bearing surface of the seat to be engaged with the support surface of the base. The action is also performed to release the seat from the base to allow reclining or removal as required.

In an alternative embodiment, pressing down on the seat causes the bolts 10 and 11 to slide down over a lip 19 extending from the sidewalls of the track 7 and thereby to be pushed into a retracted position. Once the bolts have progressed over the lip, they are forced by the resilient bias of the spring (not shown) of the lever arms 12 into engagement with the notches 9 to secure the seat to the base.

The lip 19 also allows the lever arms to be partially collapsed, such that the bolts 10 and 11 are retracted out of engagement with the notches 9, while maintaining safe engagement of the seat and base. In the partially collapsed position, the bolts 10 and 11 are disengaged from the notches 9 to allow reclination of the seat, but are still engaged under the lip 19 to prevent disengagement of the seat from the base. However, further collapsing the lever arms retracts the bolts out of engagement with the lip 19 and allows the seat to be removed from the base.

A generally U-shaped carry handle 20 is rotatably connected to the seat to allow the seat to be carried with one hand and to be used as a portable cradle. The handle includes a pair of arms 21 interconnected by a cross-bar 22. The terminal ends 23 of the arms are resiliently biased into engagement with mounting recesses 24 on opposite outer sides of the seat. The handle is releasably lockable to the seat by locking elements 25. The locking elements prevent both inadvertent disengagement of the handle from the seat as well as allowing the handle to be rotationally fixed to the seat in any one of a plurality of preselected positions.

A pair of anchor points (not shown) are provided on opposite sides of the top of the seat. These seat anchor points allow the top of the seat to be secured to a vehicle anchor point (not shown) using an anchor strap 26 extending from one of the seat anchor points to the vehicle anchor point and back to the other seat anchor point. This anchoring arrangement, being well understood by those skilled in the art, need not be described in further detail.

Figures 1 to 7 show the seat being used with a base adapted for support by a vehicle seat. However, the seat can be connected to various other bases adapted for support by different structures, such as a pram frame or the frame of a child's high chair. Figures 9 to 14 show an alternative base 27 adapted for support by a conventional pram frame 28.

As best shown in Figure 9, the base 27 includes peripheral clips 29 adapted to engage over the tubular elements 30 of the pram frame 28. The base is adapted to be fixedly connected to the frame by securing elements such as rivets, screws or bolts (not shown). The base 27 also includes an arcuate recessed portion 31 defined by a pair of spaced apart sidewalls 32 interconnected by an arcuate support surface 33. The sidewalls each include a pair of apertures 34 engageable by the retractable seat bolts 10 and 11 to secure the seat to the base 27.

In another embodiment, the base includes additional pairs of the apertures 34 to allow the seat to be securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions.

When the seat is disengaged from the pram frame base 27, a complementary cover (not shown) is placed over the recessed portion.

As illustrated in Figure 15, the seat is also adapted to be supported on a relatively flat surface such as a floor 35. hi this application, the seat is placed with the bearing surface 4 resting on the floor. The handle 20 is rotated relative to the seat such that the cross-bar 22 is located behind the back of the seat and in contact with the floor to prevent the seat from rocking backwards. - lo ¬

in another embodiment (not shown), the handle can be split transversely into two U- shaped halves. When split, the two halves are each independently rotatable and lockable in any preselected one of a plurality of angular configurations relative to the seat. In this way, one of the halves can retain the function of a carry handle, while leaving the other half capable of functioning as a support against inadvertent rearward rocking when the seat is placed on the ground.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 16 and 17, a T-shaped stabilising bar 36 is hingedly connected to the rear of the seat 5. In use, the stabilising bar is rotated outwardly relative to the rear of the seat and releasably locked with respect to the seat in an operative position, as shown in Figure 16, where it prevents the seat from rocking backwards when placed on the ground. When not in use, the bar is unlocked and folded inwardly toward the back of the seat for safe storage in a complementary recess 37 in the back of the seat, as shown in Figure 17. A pair of resiliently mounted retaining lugs (not shown) retain the bar in a stowed configuration. The lugs are configured to release the stabilising bar when the unlocking handle 17 is drawn to its maximum extent.

It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the stabilising bar can be used either in conjunction with the carry handle or as an alternative to the carry handle to secure the seat from inadvertent rearward rocking when placed on the ground.

It will be appreciated that a number of different bases may be provided to allow the seat 5 to be connected to other child restraint devices, such as high chairs. Each of the bases includes a substantially identical arcuate bearing surface to allow the same seat to be used for each base. This multi-purpose aspect also allows the seat 5 to used in a variety of different applications. For example, in one embodiment the seat is placed in a complementary base that is supported on a floor. By pulling the lever and releasing the seat from the base, the child may be carried to a different location while still comfortably secured in the seat. If desired, the seat may be re-engaged with another complementary base in the new location. This function allows a child to be moved from one place to another, without having to be removed from the seat.

It will also be appreciated that the illustrated restraint includes a seat that is removable from the base regardless of the state of recline of the seat. That is, the seat may be removed from the base in a fully reclined position, a fully upright position, or at any intermediate position. In its preferred forms, the elements of the restraint are relatively rigid and lightweight so as to meet both the requirements of relevant safety standards and the expectations of the consumer. Accordingly, they are preferably formed from composites of blown, injected, or rotary moulded plastics, polystyrenes and polyurethanes. Preferably, the blown, injected, or rotary moulded plastics are either polypropylene, polyethylene or ABS. The elements can also be reinforced by tubular metal frames as required.

In its preferred forms, the seat includes an adjustable harness for securing a child. The harness arrangement, being well understood by those skilled in the art, need not be described in further detail. It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiments of the invention represent a practical and commercially significant improvement over the prior art.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS :-

1. A child restraint including: a base having a support surface; a child seat having a bearing surface engageable with said support surface, the seat being removable from the base; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each other.

2. A restraint according to claim 1, wherein the seat is securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees.

3. A restraint according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the seat is reclinable with respect to the base.

4. A restraint according to claim 3, wherein the seat is securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions.

5. A restraint according to claim 4, wherein the support surface and the bearing surface are arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

6. A restraint according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the base includes a recessed track defined by a pair of sidewalls interconnected by the support surface.

7. A restraint according to claim 6, wherein the seat includes a projecting rail complementary to and slidably engageable with the track.

8. A restraint according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the base includes a plurality of notches spaced along the sidewalls, each notch corresponding with one of the reclined positions.

9. A restraint according to claim 8, wherein the securing means include at least one retractable bolt selectively engageable with the notches for locking the seat in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

10. A restraint according to claim 9, wherein the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with the notches.

11. A restraint according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the securing means includes a plurality of the retractable bolts

12. A restraint according to claim 11, wherein each bolt is simultaneously engageable with a respective one of the notches to lock the seat to the base in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

13. A restraint according to claim 12, including a pair of hingedly connected lever arms, each having at least one of the bolts hingedly connected thereto.

14. A restraint according to claim 13, wherein said lever arms are centrally hinged.

15. A restraint according to claim 14, including one of the bolts connected to each end of said lever arms .

16. A restraint according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said lever arms are resiliently biased apart, thereby to resiliently bias the bolts into engagement with the base.

17. A restraint according to any one of claims 13 to 16, including a recess in the rail for housing the lever arms.

18. A restraint according to any one of claims 13 to 17, including means for collapsing the lever arms, thereby to move the bolts out of engagement with the base.

19. A restraint according to claim 18, wherein partially collapsing the lever arms disengages the bolts from the notches to allow the seat to be reclined with respect to the base.

20. A restraint according to claim 19, wherein when partially collapsed, the bolts are engaged with a lip extending from the sidewalls of the base to maintain engagement of the rail with the track.

21. A restraint according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein further collapsing the lever arms disengages the seat from the base to allow the seat to be removed from the base.

22. A restraint according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the collapsing means include an unlocking handle and a pair of collapsing members each hingedly connected at one end to the handle and at the other end to a respective one of the lever arms, such that moving the unlocking handle away from the lever arms causes the collapsing members to collapse the lever arms inwardly against said resilient bias and thereby to move the bolts out of engagement with the base.

23. A restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, including a carrying handle.

24. A restraint according to claim 23, wherein the handle includes a pair of arms interconnected by a cross-bar, the arms being adapted for connection to opposite outer sides of the seat.

25. A restraint according to claim 24, including a recess on opposite outer sides of the seat, the recesses being engageable by the terminal ends of the arms to connect the handle to the seat.

26. A restraint according to claim 25, wherein the terminal ends are resiliently biased into engagement with the recesses.

27. A restraint according to any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the handle is rotatably connected to the seat.

28. A restraint according to claim 27, wherein the handle is lockable to the seat in any preselected one of a plurality of angular configurations.

29. A restraint according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the handle is removably connected to the seat.

30. A restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle.

31. A restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted for securing to a pram frame.

32. A restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted for securing to a child's high chair.

33. A restraint according to any one of claims 1 to 29, adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair.

34. A base for a child restraint, said base being removable from the seat and including: a support surface for supporting a child seat; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each another.

35. A base according to claim 34, adapted such that the seat is securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees.

36. A base according to claim 34 or claim 35, adapted such that the seat is reclinable with respect to the base.

37. A base according to claim 36, adapted such that the seat is securable in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions.

38. A base according to claim 37, wherein the support surface is arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

39. A base according to claim 38, including a recessed track defined by a pair of sidewalls interconnected by the support surface.

40. A base according to claim 39, wherein the track is adapted for sliding engagement with a complementary projecting rail of the seat.

41. A base according to claim 39 or claim 40, wherein the securing means include a plurality of notches spaced along the sidewalls, each notch corresponding with one of the reclined positions.

42. A base according to claim 41, wherein the notches are selectively engageable by at least one retractable bolt on the seat to lock the seat to the base in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

43. A base according to claim 42, wherein the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with the notches.

44. A base according to claim 42 or claim 43, wherein the seat includes a plurality of the bolts, each bolt being simultaneously engageable with a respective one of the notches to lock the seat to the base in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

45. A base according to any one of claims 34 to 44, adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle.

46. A base according to any one of claims 34 to 45, adapted for incorporation into a pram frame.

47. A base according to any one of claims 34 to 46, adapted for incorporation into a child's high chair frame.

48. A base according to any one of claims 34 to 44, adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair frame.

49. A seat for a child restraint, said seat being adapted for use with a complementary base and being removable from the base, the seat including: a bearing surface engageable with the base; and means for releasably securing said seat to said base in more than one configuration with respect to each another.

50. A seat according to claim 49, securable to the base in two distinct orientations separated rotationally by 180 degrees.

51. A seat according to claim 49 or claim 50, reclinable with respect to the base.

52. A seat according to claim 51, securable to the base in any preselected one of a plurality of reclined positions.

53. A seat according to claim 52, wherein the bearing surface is arcuate to facilitate sliding movement of the seat between the plurality of reclined positions.

54. A seat according to claim 52 or claim 53, including a projecting rail defining the bearing surface, the rail being slidingly engageable with a complementary recessed track in the base, the track being defined by a pair of sidewalls interconnected by the support surface.

55. A seat according to claim 54, wherein the securing means include at least one retractable bolt selectively engageable with the base for locking the seat in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

56. A seat according to claim 55, wherein the bolt is slidably mounted in a bore in the rail.

57. A seat according to claim 56, wherein the bolt is resiliently biased into engagement with a respective one of a plurality notches in the base to lock the seat to the base in a selected one of the reclined positions.

58. A seat according to any one of claims 55 to claim 57, including a plurality of the bolts, each bolt being simultaneously engageable with a respective notch in the base to lock the seat to the base in any preselected one of the reclined positions.

59. A seat according to claim 58, including a pair of hingedly connected lever arms, each having at least one of the bolts hingedly connected thereto.

60. A seat according to claim 59, wherein said lever arms are centrally hinged.

61. A seat according to claim 60, including a bolt connected to each end of said lever arms.

62. A seat according to any one of claims 59 to 61, wherein said lever arms are resiliently biased apart, thereby to resiliently bias the bolts into engagement with the base.

63. A seat according to any one of claims 59 to 62, including a recess in the rail for housing the lever arms.

64. A seat according to any one of claims 59 to 63, including means for collapsing the lever arms, thereby to move the bolts out of engagement with the base.

65. A seat according to claim 64, wherein the collapsing means include an unlocking handle and a pair of collapsing members each hingedly connected at one end to the handle and at the other end to a respective one of the lever arms, such that moving the unlocking handle away from the lever arms causes the collapsing members to collapse the lever arms inwardly against said resilient bias and thereby to move the bolts out of engagement with the base.

66. A seat according to claim 65, wherein the unlocking handle is located at one end of said rail.

67. A seat according to any one of claims 49 to 66, including a carrying handle.

68. A seat according to claim 67, wherein the handle includes a pair of arms intercomiected by a cross-bar, the arms being adapted for connection to opposite outer sides of the seat.

69. A seat according to claim 68, including a recess on each of its opposite outer sides, the recesses being engageable by the terminal ends of the arms to connect the handle to the seat.

70. A seat according to claim 69, wherein the terminal ends are resiliently biased into engagement with the recesses.

71. A seat according to any one of claims 67 to 70, wherein the handle is rotatably connectable to the seat.

72. A seat according to claim 71, wherein the handle is lockable to the seat in any preselected one of a plurality of angular configurations.

73. A seat according to any one of claims 67 to 72, wherein the handle is removably connected to the seat.

74. A seat according to any of claims 49 to 73, adapted for securing to a seat of a passenger vehicle.

75. A seat according to any one of claims 49 to 74, adapted for securing to a pram frame.

76. A seat according to any one of claims 49 to 75, adapted for securing to a child's high chair.

77. A seat according to any one of claims 49 to 73, adapted for securing to two or more of a seat of a passenger vehicle, a pram frame or a child's high chair.