Adjustable base convertible child car seat

• US 6,139,101 A
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Novak, Phillip M., Lemmeyer, Gary R., Berringer, Ronald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US09/177,955
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250.1, 297/256.1, 297/256.13, 297/256.14, 297/256.16
• US Class Current: 297/256.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially

Abstract

An adjustable child car seat (100) includes a base (110) with a pivot rod (174) at one end and a level adjuster receptor (140) with a plurality of adjust positions (150) at an opposite end. A recliner (114) is carried by the base (110) at the pivot rod (174). The recliner (114) provides a level adjuster (250) that is selectively moveable into any one of the adjust positions (150). The recliner also provides a seat recline level adjuster receptor (220) with a plurality of recline positions (224). A car seat (102) is pivotably mounted to the recliner (114) by a seat pin (126). A seat recline adjuster (300) is slidably mounted to the car seat and is selectively moveable into one of the recline positions. Accordingly, the level adjuster (250) allows positioning of the base (110) to the angle of the supporting seat. Further adjustment is permitted by moving the seat with respect to the recliner.

Claims

1. An adjustable child car seat, comprising a base having a pivot rod at one end and a level adjuster receptor which has a plurality of adjust positions at an opposite end;

a recliner carried by said base and coupled to said pivot rod at one end, said recliner having a level adjuster at an opposite end, said level adjuster selectively moveable into one of said plurality of adjust positions, said recliner having a seat recline adjuster receptor with a plurality of recline positions and a seat pin; and

a car seat pivotably mounted to said seat pin, said car seat having a seat recline adjuster selectively moveable into one of said plurality of recline positions.

2. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a recliner pivot module through which said pivot rod extends, said recliner pivot module having a pair of upwardly extending arms that are engaged by said recliner.

3. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 2, wherein said base comprises a frame with opposed sides with said level adjuster receptor therein, each said level adjuster receptor having a cavity with a plurality of fingers extending in a direction away from said pivot rod, said plurality of fingers forming a plurality of retention slots for selectively receiving said level adjuster.

4. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 3, wherein said level adjuster comprises a spring-biased lever having a pin-hole therethrough for carrying a pivot pin, said pivot pin moveable between said retention slots.

5. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 2, wherein said recliner further comprises a pair of side walls extending from a base, a seat pivot module having modular walls, said modular walls and said side walls forming a pair of pivot surfaces therebetween for supporting said car seat, one end of said seat pivot module carrying said seat pin, an opposite end of said car seat module having a plurality of recline adjustment openings therethrough.

6. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 5, wherein said seat recline adjuster comprises a bracket attached to a bottom of said car seat, and a recline handle slidably carried by said car seat bottom, said recline handle spring biased by said bracket, said recline handle having at least one projection selectively receivable in one of said plurality of recline adjustment openings.

7. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 6, wherein said car seat has a pair of pivot ribs received on respective pivot surfaces.

8. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 1, wherein said car seat has a pair of slots therethrough, one of said slots receiving a car seat belt when the seat is forward facing and the other of said slots receiving a car seat belt when the seat is rearward facing.

9. An adjustable child car seat, comprising

a base having opposed sides connected by a front cross bar at one end and a rear cross bar at an opposite end, said opposed sides having a pair of side holes aligned with one another proximal said rear cross bar, each of said sides having a level adjuster receptor facing one another proximal said front cross bar, said level adjuster receptor having a plurality of level positions;

a recliner having a bottom with opposed side walls slidably adjacent and disposed between said opposed sides, said bottom having a pivot hole aligned with said side holes to receive a pivot rod, said recliner pivotable about said pivot rod, said recliner having a seat pivot module substantially medially disposed between said side walls, and said seat pivot module having a hinge hole proximal said pivot rod and a seat recline adjuster receptor with a plurality of adjustment openings distal said pivot rod, said recliner having a pivot surface beside said side walls adjacent said seat pivot module, said bottom further having a rim extending between said opposed side walls, said bottom having a recliner slot therethrough;

a level adjuster secured to said rim, said level adjuster carrying a spring-biased adjuster pin which is movable within said recliner slot and selectively moveable between said plurality of level positions;

a car seat having a pair of pivot ribs slidably movable on respective said pivot surfaces, said pivot ribs having aligned pivot holes therethrough that are alignable with said hinge hole, wherein said pivot holes and said hinge hole receive a seat pin to allow said car seat to move with respect to said recliner; and

a seat recline adjuster biasingly mounted to an underside of said car seat, said seat recline adjuster having at least one projection that is selectively movable between said plurality of adjustment openings to allow adjustment of said car seat with respect to said recliner and wherein said recliner is adjustable with respect to said base.

10. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 9, wherein said base has a recliner pivot module extending from said rear cross bar, said recliner pivot module having a pair of upwardly extending arms each having an aligned arm hole therethrough, said arm holes receiving said pivot rod, said recliner having a pair of open steps extending between said seat pivot module and said bottom, said open steps slidably positionable over said arms.

11. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 9, wherein said level adjuster receptor comprises a multi-fingered cavity inset into each said side, said cavity having a plurality of fingers extending in a direction toward said level adjuster, said fingers forming retention slots therebetween to receive said adjuster pin and hold said recliner at a desired position.

12. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 11, wherein each said recliner slot is alignable with said retention slots.

13. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 9, wherein said seat pivot module has a pair of ramps extending upwardly from a hinge wall through which said hinge hole extends, said ramps forming a recline face opposite said hinge wall, said recline face providing said pairs of adjustment openings.

14. The adjustable child car seat according to claim 13, wherein said seat recline adjuster comprises a mounting bracket secured to an underside of said car seat;

at least one mounting bolt extending from said underside; and

a recline handle having a slot slidably secured to said mounting bolt, said recline handle spring biased against said mounting bracket, said recline handle having a pair of projecting wings receivable in corresponding pairs of adjustment openings.