Strap System and Method for Securing a Child Safety Seat to Wheeled Luggage

Abstract

One or more adjustable-length straps are used to secure a child safety seat to wheeled luggage, to facilitate transporting a child, the child's safety seat, and luggage, all at the same time. Depending on the features available on the child safety seat, different types of straps may be utilized in different ways.

1 . A kit comprising first and second child safety seat-to-wheeled luggage clamping straps,
 each clamping strap comprising a first end provided with a ratchet buckle, a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap, and an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends,   the child safety seat having a back side provided with a horizontally extending passageway, and   the wheeled luggage having a luggage body and a handle assembly connected to the luggage body,   wherein:   the first strap is capable of abutting the luggage body, with the adjustable-length portion of the first strap passing through the horizontally extending passageway and the ratchet buckle and toothed tongue engaging one another to tighten the first strap so as to clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat, and   the second strap is capable of abutting the handle assembly at a location vertically spaced apart from where the first strap abuts luggage body, with the adjustable-length portion of the second strap also passing through the horizontally extending passageway and the ratchet buckle and toothed tongue engaging one another to tighten the second strap so as to further clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat.   
     
     
         2 . In combination, a child safety seat strapped to wheeled luggage by means of first and second adjustable-length clamping straps,
 the child safety seat having a back side provided with a horizontally extending passageway;   the wheeled luggage having a luggage body and a handle assembly connected to the luggage body,   each strap comprising a first end provided with a ratchet buckle, a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap, and an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends,   the first strap abutting the luggage body, with the adjustable-length portion of the first strap passing through the horizontally extending passageway and the ratchet buckle and toothed tongue engaging one another to tighten the first strap so as to clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat,   the second strap abutting the handle assembly at location vertically spaced apart from where the first strap abuts luggage body, with the adjustable-length portion of the second strap also passing through the horizontally extending passageway and the ratchet buckle and toothed tongue engaging one another to tighten the second strap so as to further clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat.   
     
     
         3 . A method of securing a child safety seat to wheeled luggage having a luggage body and a handle assembly connected to the luggage body, comprising:
 providing first and second clamping straps, each strap comprising a first end provided with a ratchet buckle, a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap, and an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends;   positioning the wheeled luggage proximate to a back side of a child safety seat, the back side of the child safety seat having a passageway;   passing, through the passageway, a portion of the first clamping strap and then mating the toothed tongue to the ratchet buckle with the luggage being encircled by the first clamping strap;   passing, through the passageway, a portion of the second clamping strap and then mating the toothed tongue to the ratchet buckle with the luggage being encircled by the second clamping strap;   tightening the first clamping strap so as to clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat; and   tightening the second clamping strap such that the second strap abuts the handle assembly at location vertically spaced apart from where the first clamping strap abuts luggage body, so as to clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat.   
     
     
         4 . A child-safety-seat-to-luggage clamping strap comprising:
 a first end provided with a ratchet buckle;   a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap;   an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and   a retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion, wherein:   the strap has a length sufficient to pass through a passageway formed on a back side of a child safety seat and encircle a luggage body of wheeled luggage of a size suitable for carrying onto a commercial aircraft with the ratchet buckle engaging the toothed tongue, when the strap clamps the child safety seat to the wheeled luggage.   
     
     
         5 . The strap of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining ring is one from the group consisting of a keyhole-shaped ring, a circular ring, an oval ring and an S-hook. 
     
     
         6 . In combination, a child safety seat strapped to wheeled luggage by means of an adjustable-length strap,
 the child safety seat having a top tether and a back side provided with a horizontally extending passageway;   the wheeled luggage having a luggage body; and   the strap having a first end provided with a ratchet buckle, a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap, an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and a retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion, wherein:   the back side of the child safety seat abuts the luggage body with the top tether extending over a top portion of the luggage body and down along a back side thereof;   a section of the adjustable-length portion of the strap passes through the horizontally extending passageway and encircles the luggage body;   the ratchet buckle and toothed section engage one another, thereby clamping together the child safety seat and the luggage body, and   the retaining ring engages the top tether.   
     
     
         7 . A method of securing a child safety seat to wheeled luggage, the wheel luggage having a luggage body and a handle assembly connected to the luggage body, the method comprising:
 providing a clamping strap having a first end provided with a ratchet buckle, a second end provided with a toothed tongue configured to cooperate with said ratchet buckle for tightening the strap, an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and a retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion;   positioning the wheeled luggage proximate to a back side of a child safety seat, the back side of the child safety seat having a passageway;   passing, through the passageway, a portion of the clamping strap and encircling the luggage with the clamping strap;   mating the toothed tongue to the ratchet buckle;   engaging the retaining ring to a top tether of the child safety seat; and   tightening the clamping strap so as to clamp the wheeled luggage against the back side of the child safety seat, wherein:   the top tether extends over a top portion of the luggage body and down along a back side thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A child-safety-seat-to-luggage clamping strap comprising:
 a first end provided with a first retaining ring;   a second end provided with a second retaining ring;   an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and   a third retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends; wherein:   the clamping strap has a length sufficient for the first and second retaining rings to engage hook members belonging to corresponding first and second latch straps of a child safety seat, and the third retaining ring to simultaneously engage a top tether of the same child safety seat, when the strap's first, second and third retaining rings form a three-point connection to clamp the child safety seat to a luggage body of wheeled luggage of a size suitable for carrying onto a commercial aircraft, with the top tether extending over a top portion of the luggage body and down along a back side thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The strap of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining ring is one from the group consisting of a keyhole-shaped ring, a circular ring, an oval ring and an S-hook. 
     
     
         10 . In combination, a child safety seat strapped to wheeled luggage, by means of an adjustable-length strap,
 the child safety seat having a top tether and first and second lower latch straps, each lower latch strap having a hook member;   the wheeled luggage having a luggage body; and   the strap having a first end provided with first retaining ring, a second end provided with a second retaining ring, an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and a third retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion, wherein:   the back side of the child safety seat abuts the luggage body with the top tether extending over a top of the luggage body, and the first and second lower latch straps extend on either side of the luggage body;   the first and second retaining rings engage the hook members of respective first and second lower latch straps, and the third retaining ring engages the top tether, whereby the first second and third retaining rings form a three-point connection to clamp the child safety seat to the luggage body.   
     
     
         11 . A method of securing a child safety seat to wheeled luggage, the wheeled luggage having a luggage body and a handle assembly connected to the luggage body, the method comprising:
 providing a clamping strap having a first end provided with first retaining ring, a second end provided with a second retaining ring, an adjustable-length portion between the first and second ends, and a third retaining ring positioned along the adjustable-length portion;   positioning the wheeled luggage proximate to a back side of a child safety seat, the back side of the child safety seat having a passageway;   engaging the first and second retaining rings to hook members of respective first and second lower latch straps and engaging the third retaining ring to a top tether of the child safety seat, wherein the top tether extends over a top portion of the luggage body and down along a back side thereof; and   adjusting one or more of the top tether and the first and second latch straps;   whereby the first second and third retaining rings form a three-point connection to clamp the child safety seat to the luggage body.