MODULAR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 20080042476A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safian Company
• Original Assignee: Orbit Baby, Inc. (ERGO Baby Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: WHITE, Bryan, HEI, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2845 having handles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2848 being convertible or adaptable to a preambulator, e.g. a baby-carriage or a push-chair
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2857 characterised by the peculiar orientation of the child B60N2/2869 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2869 rotatable about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2878 the back-rest being inclinable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix

Abstract

A modular child restraint system for use in vehicles comprises a base and interchangeable attachable seats where the seats are for different stages of childhood development. The system can further comprise additional bases adapted to other uses such as strollers and infant swings. A common engagement mechanism allows the various seats to be moved from one base to another. One such system comprises a base and a seat configured to rotate relative to one another when engaged. The seat can also lock in a position relative to the base. The base includes a visual indicator to show that the seat is secured to the base.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. :

A child restraint system comprising;

a base including a base hub having a circumferential lip and at least one detent; and

a seat including a seat hub configured to rotationally engage with the base hub, wherein the seat hub comprises at least one retractable latch configured to;

engage under the circumferential lip of the base hub to secure the seat hub to the base hub, and

lock into at least one of the at least one detents to prevent rotation of the seat relative to the base.

25. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, wherein the seat further comprises a release lever associated therewith operable to move the retractable latch for disengagement of the seat hub from the base hub.

26. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate whether the seat hub is rotationally locked with the base hub.

27. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, further comprising a visual indicator configured to change color in response to the seat being rotationally locked with the base.

28. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, further comprising two retractable latches configured to engage under the circumferential lip.

29. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, wherein the base is configured to be attached to a vehicle seat.

30. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, wherein the base is part of a stroller.

31. :

The child restraint system of claim 24, further comprising a second seat configured to detachably engage the base and to be able to rotate relative to the base when engaged thereto, wherein the seats are adapted to different stages of child development.

32. :

A child restraint system comprising;

a base; and

a seat configured to rotationally engage the base, wherein the seat is separable from the base when a release lever associated with the seat is activated.

33. :

The child restraint system of claim 32, wherein the seat and base are further configured to rotationally lock in at least one rotational position.

34. :

The child restraint system of claim 33, wherein the seat and hub are further rotationally unlocked in response to activating the release lever.

35. :

The child restraint system of claim 32, wherein the seat and base are further configured to rotationally lock in at least two rotational positions.

36. :

The child restraint system of claim 35, wherein the seat and hub are further rotationally unlocked in response to activating the release lever.

37. :

The child restraint system of claim 32, wherein the base includes a base hub operable to engage a seat hub associated with the seat.

38. :

The child restraint system of claim 32, wherein;

the base includes a base hub having a circumferential lip and at least one detent; and

the seat includes a seat hub configured to rotationally engage with the base hub, wherein the seat hub comprises at least one retractable latch configured to engage under the circumferential lip of the base hub to secure the seat hub to the base hub, and lock into at least one of the at least one detents to prevent rotation of the seat relative to the base.

39. :

The child restraint system of claim 38, further comprising at least two retractable latches configured to engage under the circumferential lip.

40. :

The child restraint system of claim 32, wherein;

the base includes a base hub having two retractable retaining bars; and

the seat includes a seat hub configured to rotationally engage with the base hub and having a circumferential lip that engages the two retaining bars to secure the seat to the base.

41. :

The child restraint system of claim 40, wherein the seat hub further comprises at least one cam configured to push at least one of the two retractable retaining bars to disengage the seat hub from the base hub.

42. :

A child restraint system comprising;

a seat having a seat hub associated therewith configured to rotationally engage with a base hub, the seat hub having at least one retractable latch configured to secure the seat hub to the base hub, wherein the at least one retractable latch is movable in response to activating a release lever associated with the seat for disengaging the seat hub from the base hub.

43. :

The child restraint system of claim 42, further comprising at least two retractable latches.

44. :

The child restraint system of claim 42, wherein the at least one retractable latch is further configured to engage with at least one feature of the base hub to restrict rotation of the seat relative to the base.

45. :

The child restraint system of claim 42, wherein the release lever is located with a handle associated with the seat.

46. :

A child restraint system comprising;

a base having a base hub associated therewith configured to rotationally engage with a seat hub, the base hub having a circumferential lip configured for engagement by a seat hub having at least one retractable latch, the base hub further having at least one feature for engaging the at least one retractable latch to prevent rotation of the seat hub relative to the base hub, wherein the seat hub and base hub are separable when the retractable latch is retracted.

47. :

A child restraint system comprising;

a base having a base hub associated therewith configured to rotationally engage with a seat hub, the base hub having at least one retractable retaining bar operable to engage a feature of a seat to secure the seat to the base.

48. :

The child restraint system of claim 47, wherein the at least one retractable retaining bar is operable to engage a circumferential lip associated with the seat.