Infant restraint for vehicles
First Claim
1. An infant restraint for use in a vehicle comprising a frame, an infant support shell having a back and head support section and a seat and leg support section disposed generally perpendicular to each other, said shell having a fixed pivotal connection adjacent the upper end portion of said back and head support section with said frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the shell, said shell having means for mounting it on a vehicle seat in a generally fixed position relative to the vehicle with the shell facing in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said mounting means including means adapted to rigidly engage the vehicle to prevent vertical downward displacement of said pivotal connection between said frame and shell, yieldable means interconnecting the shell and frame for retaining the shell on the frame in a normal riding position wherein the back and head support section of the rearwardly-facing shell is inclined substantially to the vertical such that an infant is comfortably supported in a somewhat reclined position by the shell, said yieldable means being responsive to deceleration of the vehicle resulting from a frontal impact to permit the lower portion of the shell to pivot about said fixed axis on the frame in a direction downwardly and forwardly relative to the frame so that the back and head support section of the shell assumes a more erect position and means for limiting pivotal movement of said shell in said direction to said more erect position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infant restraint for use in a vehicle has a frame adapted to be securely fastened to the vehicle seat and on which an infant support shell is pivotally mounted and yieldably retained in a position for supporting the infant in a comfortable, somewhat reclining position. When the restraint is mounted on a vehicle seat with the shell in a rearward-facing direction, the shell swings to a more erect position in the event of a frontal crash, thereby avoiding injury to or ejection of the infant from the restraint.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An infant restraint for use in a vehicle comprising a frame, an infant support shell having a back and head support section and a seat and leg support section disposed generally perpendicular to each other, said shell having a fixed pivotal connection adjacent the upper end portion of said back and head support section with said frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the shell, said shell having means for mounting it on a vehicle seat in a generally fixed position relative to the vehicle with the shell facing in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said mounting means including means adapted to rigidly engage the vehicle to prevent vertical downward displacement of said pivotal connection between said frame and shell, yieldable means interconnecting the shell and frame for retaining the shell on the frame in a normal riding position wherein the back and head support section of the rearwardly-facing shell is inclined substantially to the vertical such that an infant is comfortably supported in a somewhat reclined position by the shell, said yieldable means being responsive to deceleration of the vehicle resulting from a frontal impact to permit the lower portion of the shell to pivot about said fixed axis on the frame in a direction downwardly and forwardly relative to the frame so that the back and head support section of the shell assumes a more erect position and means for limiting pivotal movement of said shell in said direction to said more erect position.
Specification