Attachment mechanism with interlocked belt retractor

• US 20090065621A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evenflo Company Incorporated (Goodbaby International Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Evenflo Company Incorporated (Goodbaby International Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Dingman, Guy Robert, Woellert, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/382.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/025 Adaptations for use with children seats or luggages
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/30 Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices adaptations of manual three-point seat belt systems for use by small passengers using other means than belt anti-slip devices B60R22/024; buckles A44B11/00; releasable fastenings in general F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/35 the locking means being automatically actuated

Abstract

A multi-mode belt retractor including an interlocked attachment mechanism. The belt retractor and attachment mechanism are physically integrated in a single unit. In one embodiment, the retractor is shifted between modes by the operation by the attachment mechanism such that securing the attachment mechanism to an anchor point shifts the belt retractor into a locked mode. Releasing the attachment mechanism from the anchor point shifts the belt retractor into a free-wheel mode. In one embodiment, only a single user-operable button is provided, thus minimizing the opportunity for improper operation. One embodiment of the attachment mechanism is symmetrical, making it operable by a user'"'"'s left or right hand.

Claims

1. A connection assembly for a child restraint comprising:

a connector, the connector being adapted to releasably couple to an attachment point;

a retractor attached to the connector and including a spool; and

a length of webbing, the length of webbing extending from the child restraint to the retractor and around the spool;

wherein the attachment point is provided within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and is adapted for securing a child restraint within the vehicle.

2. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is rigidly coupled to the retractor.

3. The connection assembly of claim 2, wherein the retractor and the connector form an integrated unit.

4. The connection assembly of claim 3, wherein the retractor and the connector are encased within a shell and the length of webbing extends from the child restraint, through an opening in the shell, and to the retractor.

5. The connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism being operatively coupled to the retractor.

6. The connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes at least one pawl selectively engageable with at least one ratchet wheel such that the ratchet mechanism permits extension of the length of webbing from the retractor only when the at least one pawl is disengaged from the at least one ratchet wheel, the at least one pawl disengaging from the at least one ratchet wheel when the length of webbing is fully retracted into the retractor and the at least one pawl engaging the at least one ratchet wheel after the length of webbing partially retracts into the retractor after being at least partially extended from the retractor.

7. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is articulable relative to the retractor about a joint located between the connector and the retractor.

8. The connection assembly of claim 6, further comprising a pawl paddle and a clutch plate having a cam, the pawl paddle being mounted adjacent to the spool such that the pawl paddle is moved to an open position by webbing accumulating on the spool when substantially all of the length of webbing is retracted onto the spool, the cam being operable to hold the pawl paddle in the open position while a portion of the length of webbing is withdrawn from the retractor and the cam disengaging from the pawl paddle and allowing the pawl paddle to shift to a locked position when the length of webbing is partially retracted onto the retractor;

wherein the pawl paddle is connected to the pawl and the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel when the pawl paddle is in the open position and the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel when the pawl paddle is in the locked position.

9. The connection assembly of claim 7, wherein a centerline of the connector is between 0 and 45 degrees offset from a centerline of the webbing.

10. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the retractor further includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin and the second pin being located such that the length of webbing extends from the spool, between the first pin and the second pin, and out of the retractor, wherein a distance between the first pin and the second pin is equal to a minimum spacing required to permit a single thickness of the webbing to slide freely between the first pin and the second pin.

11. A connection assembly for a child restraint seat comprising:

a length of webbing extending from a child restraint seat and terminating at a first end;

a connection device including

a retractor including a spool adapted to receive at least a portion of the length of webbing including the first end, and

a first connector, the first connector being adapted to releasably couple the connection device to a first attachment point within a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

12. The connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the retractor is operable in a plurality of modes of operation, the modes of operation including a free-wheel mode and a lock mode, wherein in the free-wheel mode the retractor permits the portion of the length of webbing to be readily extended from the spool and in the lock mode the retractor prevents webbing from being extended from the spool.

13. The connection assembly of claim 12 further comprising an interlock, the interlock being operative to change the mode of operation of the retractor from the free-wheel mode to the lock mode when the first connector is coupled to the first attachment point

14. The connection assembly of claim 13, further comprising a release button operative to change the mode of operation of the retractor from the lock mode to the free-wheel mode and adapted to release the first connector from the first attachment point.

15. The connection assembly of claim 14, wherein the length of webbing has a first surface, a second surface, a first edge, and a second edge, and wherein the first connector is generally symmetric about a line extending from the first edge of the length of webbing to the second edge of the length of webbing.

16. The connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the retractor further includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin and the second pin being located such that the length of webbing extends from the spool, between the first pin and the second pin, and out of the retractor, wherein a distance between the first pin and the second pin is equal to a minimum spacing required to permit a single thickness of the webbing to slide freely between the first pin and the second pin.

17. The connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the first connector is articulable relative to the retractor about a joint located between the first connector and the retractor.

18. The connection assembly of claim 11, wherein a centerline of the connector is between 0 and 45 degrees offset from a centerline of the length of webbing.

19. The connection device of claim 11, further comprising a second connector;

wherein the length of webbing has a first end and a second end;

the spool is adapted to receive a portion of the length of webbing including the first end; and

the second connector is adapted to releasably couple the second end of the length of webbing to a second attachment point.

20. The connection device of claim 19, wherein the attachment point and the second attachment point are located within a vehicle proximate to both a seat portion and a seatback portion of a seat.

21. The connection device of claim 20, wherein the length of webbing between the retractor and the second connector passes through a portion of a child restraint.

22. The connection device of claim 11, wherein the retractor further includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin and the second pin being located such that the length of webbing extends from the spool, between the first pin and the second pin, and out of the retractor, wherein a distance between the first pin and the second pin is equal to a minimum spacing required to permit a single thickness of the webbing to slide freely between the first pin and the second pin.

23. A connection device comprising:

a retractor, the retractor including a spool adapted to receive a length of webbing, the webbing having a centerline oriented in a direction along which webbing is withdrawn from the retractor; and

a connector, the connector being adapted to releasably couple the connection device to an attachment point and the connector having a centerline extending from a location where the connector is joined to the retractor towards the portion of the connector that couples with the attachment point;

wherein the centerline of the connector is between 0 and 45 degrees offset from the centerline of the webbing.

24. The connection device of claim 23, wherein the centerline of the connector is between 20 and 30 degrees offset from the centerline of the webbing.

25. A connection device comprising:

a retractor, the retractor including a spool adapted to receive a length of webbing;

a connector, the connector being adapted to releasably couple the connection device to an attachment point; and

a cable release mechanism adapted to release the connector from the attachment point, the cable release mechanism including a handle, a length of cable, a fixed attachment point, and a slidable attachment point.

26. The connection device of claim 25, wherein the handle is located adjacent to the retractor.

27. A retractor comprising:

a frame;

a spool mounted on the frame, the spool being adapted to receive a length of webbing;

a first gear wheel coupled to the spool;

a first pawl selectively engageable with the first gear wheel;

a second gear wheel coupled to the spool;

a second pawl selectively engageable with the second gear wheel; and

a button, the button operatively connected to the first pawl and the second pawl such that in a first position the first pawl is engaged and the second pawl is disengaged and in a second position the first pawl is disengaged and a second pawl is engaged;

wherein the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel are oriented in opposite directions such that engagement of the first pawl with the first gear wheel prevents rotation of the spool in a first direction and engagement of the second pawl with the second gear wheel prevents rotation of the spool in a second direction.

28. The retractor of claim 27, further comprising an engagement element, the engagement element being rotatable in relation to the frame and including the first pawl, wherein in the first position a tab on the button holds the engagement element in a disengaged position and in the second position the button allows a spring to rotate the engagement element such that the first pawl engages the second gear wheel.