Apparatus and method for interconnecting a child seat and monitoring system
First Claim
1. A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising:
- a base portion;
a carrier portion configured to be removably secured to the base portion;
a restraint system component;
a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a state of the restraint system component;
an electronic control unit secured to either the carrier portion or the base portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the restraint system component to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to provide an output indicative of the state of the restraint system component; and
an electrical connector for providing electrical connection between the sensor and the electronic control unit, the electrical connector comprising;
a first contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the first contact member having a plurality of contact surfaces; and
a second contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the second contact member having a plurality of spring biased contacts movably secured to the second contact member, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces of the first contact member are configured to make contact with the plurality of spring biased contacts when the carrier portion is secured to the base portion.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a base portion; a carrier portion configured to be removably secured to the base portion; a restraint system component; a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a state of the restraint system component; an electronic control unit secured to either the carrier portion or the base portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the restraint system component to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to provide an output indicative of the state of the restraint system component; and an electrical connector for providing electrical connection between the sensor and the electronic control unit, the electrical connector comprising: a first contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the first contact member having a plurality of contact surfaces; and a second contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the second contact member having a plurality of spring biased contacts movably secured to the second contact member, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces of the first contact member are configured to make contact with the plurality of spring biased contacts when the carrier portion is secured to the base portion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising:
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a base portion;
a carrier portion configured to be removably secured to the base portion;
a restraint system component;
a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a state of the restraint system component;
an electronic control unit secured to either the carrier portion or the base portion, the electronic control unit being operably coupled to the restraint system component to receive the signal, the electronic control unit being capable of processing the signal to provide an output indicative of the state of the restraint system component; and
an electrical connector for providing electrical connection between the sensor and the electronic control unit, the electrical connector comprising;
a first contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the first contact member having a plurality of contact surfaces; and
a second contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the second contact member having a plurality of spring biased contacts movably secured to the second contact member, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces of the first contact member are configured to make contact with the plurality of spring biased contacts when the carrier portion is secured to the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrical connector configured to provide an electrical connection between a carrier portion and a base portion of a child seat having at least one sensor disposed in the carrier portion and an electronic control unit located within the base portion, the electrical connector comprising:
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a first contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the first contact member having a plurality of contact surfaces; and
a second contact member secured to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the second contact member having a plurality of spring biased contacts movably secured to the second contact member, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces of the first contact member are configured to make contact with the plurality of spring biased contacts when the carrier portion is secured to the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing an electrical connection between a carrier portion and a base portion of a child seat having a electronic control unit configured to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors located in the carrier portion and the base portion, the method comprising:
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securing a first contact member to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the first contact member having a plurality of contact surfaces;
securing a second contact member to either the base portion or the carrier portion, the second contact member having a plurality of spring biased contacts movably secured to the second contact member, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces of the first contact member are configured to make contact with the plurality of spring biased contacts when the carrier portion is secured to the base portion, wherein the second contact member further comprises a plurality of springs disposed in a housing of the second contact member wherein each of the plurality of springs are configured to make electrical contact with a respective one of the plurality of spring biased contacts while also providing a termination end that depends away from an exterior surface the housing, wherein each of the plurality of springs also provides a biasing force to a respective one of the plurality of spring biased contacts and the electrical connector is configured to provide tolerances in three separate directions.
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Specification