Interlocking infant carrier and base for car seat mounting

• US 4,634,177 A
• Filed: 10/10/1985
• Issued: 01/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gerber Products Company (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Meeker, Paul K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rendos, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US06/786,036
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250, 297/257, 297/130, 297/183, 297/377, 297/440, 297/DIG. 2, 292/169, 248/501, 248/502, 248/510, 70/432
• US Class Current: 297/256.13
• 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 2/2854 Children's cots; Hammocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0977 Cam

Abstract

An infant carrier and base are provided with locking features which include a spring-mounted bolt protruding laterally from the base and a hollow or aperture in the carrier which engages the bolt when the carrier is inserted into the base. The upper surface of the bolt is sloped so that the carrier forces the bolt inward (to a retracted position) as the rim of the aperture slides over the protruding end of the bolt. A spring snaps the bolt back into place once the carrier is fully inserted and the aperture is aligned with the bolt. The carrier contains a lever arm whose fulcrum is positioned adjacent to the aperture. A spiral cam protrudes from the fulcrum to engage a knob extending upward from the side of the bolt, so that when the lever arm is rotated the cam urges the knob backward, retracting the bolt and permitting removal of the carrier from the base.

Claims

1. Apparatus for locking an infant carrier into a base which is mountable to a car seat, said apparatus comprising:

a bolt slidably mounted to said base and spring-biased to project laterally therefrom said bolt having a sloping surface oriented to yield under a transverse contact force and thereby cause retraction of said bolt;

a hollow in said carrier to receive said bolt, said hollow having a rim capable of exerting said transverse contact force to said sloping surface of said bolt during insertion of said carrier into said base;

a projection extending transversely from said bolt; and

a lever arm mounted to said carrier, said lever arm having a cam protruding radially from the fulcrum thereof to engage said projection when said carrier is inserted into said base, said cam being spiraled to urge said projection backward and thereby retract said bolt upon turning of said lever arm.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a stop extending radially from said fulcrum to prevent backward motion of said projection and thereby retraction of said bolt when said projection is not engaged by said cam.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said sloping surface is the uppermost surface of said bolt and said projection extends upward from said bolt.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion of said bolt is enclosed within said base and said projection extends through a slot in said base.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said bolt is shaped to prevent removal thereof from said hollow without turning said lever arm to engage said cam with said projection.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second said bolt, said bolts projecting inward from opposite sides of said base;

a second said hollow in said carrier to receive said second bolt;

a second said projection extending transversely from said second bolt; and

a second said lever arm.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a detent slidably mounted to said lever arm, and a row of notches in said carrier to engage said detent and thereby prevent rotation of said lever arm.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said detent is spring-biased toward said row of notches.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said row of notches is curved along an arc of a circle having its center at the fulcrum of said lever.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said row of notches is comprised of first and second sections spaced apart along said arc to define opposite ends of a range of rotation of said lever arm, said first and second sections being separated by an unnotched surface permitting free rotation of said lever arm.

11. Apparatus for locking an infant carrier into a base which is mountable to a car seat, said apparatus comprising:

a bolt slidably mounted inside said base with one end protruding laterally therefrom the uppermost surface of said protruding end sloping downward, said bolt being spring-biased outward;

a tab extending downward from said carrier, having an aperture to receive said protruding end of said bolt;

a knob extending upward from a non-protruding portion of said bolt through a slot in said base permitting lateral travel of said knob;

a lever arm mounted to said carrier, terminating in a cylindrical hub at the fulcrum of said lever arm;

a cam protruding from the side wall of said cylindrical hub to engage said knob when said carrier is inserted into said base, said cam being spiraled to urge said knob backward upon turning of said lever arm; and

a stop protruding from the side wall of said hub to prevent backward motion of said knob when said knob is not engaged by said cam.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which said knob is spring-biased upward.

13. Apparatus for locking an infant carrier into a base which is mounted to a car seat, said apparatus comprising:

a bolt slidably mounted inside said base with one end protruding laterally therefrom, the uppermost surface of said protruding end sloping downward, said bolt being spring-biased outward;

an aperture in the side of said carrier to receive said protruding end of said bolt;

a knob extending upward from said bolt;

a lever arm mounted to said carrier and terminating in a cylindrical hub at the fulcrum thereof, positioned to rest above said bolt when said carrier is inserted into said base;

a cam along the outer surface of the side wall of said cylindrical hub to engage said knob when said carrier is inserted into said base, said cam being spiraled to urge said knob in the backward direction away from said protruding end upon rotation of said lever arm;

a detent mounted to said cylindrical hub in slidable manner along a radial direction thereof, said detent being spring-biased away from the center of said hub;

first and second rows of notches in said carrier to engage said detent and separted by an unnotched surface, said first and second rows and said unnotched surface curving along an arc of a circle coaxial with the center of said hub, said first row positioned to engage said detent when said lever arm is in a position whereby said knob is held backward by said cam, and said second row positioned to engage said detent when said lever arm is in a position whereby said knob is clear of said cam.