APPARATUS FOR USE IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT

• US 20180086236A1
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbH
• Original Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbH
• Inventors: Henseler, Richard, Frank, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,589,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix

Abstract

An apparatus for a child safety seat is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a releasable connector configured to engage with an anchoring point provided in a vehicle to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle, wherein the releasable connector is movable relative to the child safety seat in a first direction; the apparatus further comprises a braking element coupled to the releasable connector and configured to decelerate a movement of the releasable connector in the first direction if an accelerating force acting on the releasable connector in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a child safety seat (2), the apparatus comprising a releasable connector (4) configured to engage with an anchoring point (3) provided in a vehicle to secure the child safety seat (2) to the vehicle, wherein

the releasable connector (4) is movable relative to the child safety seat (2) in a first direction;

and

the apparatus further comprises a braking element (7) coupled to the releasable connector (4) and configured to decelerate a movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction if an accelerating force acting on the releasable connector (4) in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the braking element (7) is pivotally coupled to the releasable connector (4) and is configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the braking element (7) which is spaced apart from the center of gravity of the braking element (7) such that a rotary force acts on the braking element (7) if the releasable connector (4) is accelerated.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the braking element (7) is additionally connected to the releasable connector (4) by an elastic element (8) such that an elastic force caused by the elastic element (8) acts against the rotary force caused by an acceleration of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elastic element (8) is a spring.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a component configured to allow movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction and prevent movement of the releasable connector (4) in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the component configured to allow movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction and prevent movement of the releasable connector (4) in the second direction opposite to the first direction comprises a ratchet mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable connector (4) comprises an ISOFIX connector of a child safety seat (2).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the braking element (7) is configured to decelerate the movement of the releasable connector (4) by providing a friction force caused by friction between the braking element (7) and a surface of the child safety seat (2).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plate element (6) configured to be mounted on a surface of the child safety seat (2) such that the plate element (6) comes into contact with the braking element (7) if the accelerating force acting on the releasable connector (4) in the first direction exceeds the predetermined threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a part of the surface of the braking element (7) is serrated.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a part of the surface of the plate element (6) is serrated.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plate element (6) comprises or consists of plastic and the braking element (7) comprises or consists of metal.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the materials of the braking element (7) and the plate element (6) are selected such that the coefficient of friction of the material of the braking element (7) and the plate element (6) is sufficiently large for the braking element (7) and the plate element (6) to become wedged together if the accelerating force acting on the releasable connector (4) in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

14. A child safety seat (2) comprising an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a releasable connector (4) configured to engage with an anchoring point (3) provided in a vehicle to secure the child safety seat (2) to the vehicle, wherein

the releasable connector (4) is movable relative to the child safety seat (2) in a first direction;

and

the apparatus further comprises a braking element (7) coupled to the releasable connector (4) and configured to decelerate a movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction if an accelerating force acting on the releasable connector (4) in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. The child safety seat (2) of claim 14, wherein the child safety seat (2) is configured for a rear-facing installation in the vehicle.

16. The child safety seat (2) of claim 14, wherein the braking element (7) is pivotally coupled to the releasable connector (4) and is configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the braking element (7) which is spaced apart from the center of gravity of the braking element (7) such that a rotary force acts on the braking element (7) if the releasable connector (4) is accelerated.

17. The child safety seat (2) of claim 16, wherein the braking element (7) is additionally connected to the releasable connector (4) by an elastic element (8) such that an elastic force caused by the elastic element (8) acts against the rotary force caused by an acceleration of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction.

18. The child safety seat (2) of claim 17, wherein the elastic element (8) is a spring.

19. The child safety seat (2) of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a component configured to allow movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction and prevent movement of the releasable connector (4) in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

20. The child safety seat (2) of claim 19, wherein the component configured to allow movement of the releasable connector (4) in the first direction and prevent movement of the releasable connector (4) in the second direction opposite to the first direction comprises a ratchet mechanism.