Method and apparatus for safely seating multiple children

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for seating two or more small children in a safe and comfortable manner in a reduced seating footprint. Through the use of a reduced seating footprint, parents can utilize safer, smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles such that the financial burden associated with owning and operating larger vehicles can be foregone. The seating assembly can include a unitary seating frame having two or more seating portions operatively connected to the seating frame. The seating assembly can further include a utility bin that operably attaches to the unitary seating frame.

1 . A method for reducing a car seat footprint required for seating two or more children in a motor vehicle comprising: 
 providing a unitary seating frame having at least a first seating portion and a second seating portion;    fastening the unitary seating frame to an automobile seat; and    attaching at least a first car seat and a second car seat to the first seating portion and the second seating portion.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary seating frame includes a third seating portion.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 attaching either a third car seat or a utility bin to the third seating portion.    
   
   
       4 . A child car seat system comprising: 
 a unitary frame having at least a first seating portion and a second seating portion;    a first car seat; and    a second car seat,    wherein the unitary frame is coupled to an automobile seat; and    wherein the first car seat is attached to the first seating portion and the second car seat is attached to the second seating portion.    
   
   
       5 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the unitary frame further comprises a third seating portion and wherein a third car seat is attached to the third seating portion.  
   
   
       6 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the unitary frame further comprises a third seating portion and wherein a utility bin is attached to the third seating portion.  
   
   
       7 . The child car seat system of  claim 6 , wherein the utility bin includes one or more storage features selected from the group comprising: an interior storage portion, a recessed storage portion and a drink holder.  
   
   
       8 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the first car seat and the second car seat are detachably removable from the unitary frame.  
   
   
       9 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the first car seat is selected from the group comprising: an infant seat, a toddler seat and a child booster seat.  
   
   
       10 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the second car seat is selected from the group comprising: an infant seat, a toddler seat and a child booster seat.  
   
   
       11 . The child car seat system of  claim 4 , wherein the unitary frame comprises a multi-child restraining bar adapted for placement in a retaining orientation to both the first car seat and the second car seat.  
   
   
       12 . A method of seating two or more children across an automobile seat comprising: 
 attaching a single seating frame to the automobile seat, wherein the single seating frame includes at least a first seating portion and a second seating portion; and    installing a first car seat in the first seating portion and a second car seat in the second seating portion.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the steps of attaching the single seating frame and installing the first car seat and the second car seat reduces a seating width by at least 3 inches when compared to attaching two individual car seats to the automobile seat.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first car seat is selected from the group comprising: an infant seat, a toddler seat and a child booster seat.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second car seat is selected from the group comprising: an infant seat, a toddler seat and a child booster seat.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the single seating frame includes a third seating portion.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 attaching a third unit to the third seating portion, wherein the third unit is selected from the group comprising: an infant seat, a toddler seat, a child booster seat and a utility bin.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 storing children's items within a utility bin attached to the third seating portion.