Restraint coupling

• US 6,962,394 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Wiseman, Michael A., Dingman, Guy R., Anthony, James T., Berenyi, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/206,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250.1, 297/253, 246/33
• US Class Current: 297/253
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2893 coupled to the seat sub-frame
• 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: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

A coupling to attach a device such as an infant seat to an anchor member. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a mouth with a seat configured to receive the anchor member and a lever movably mounted on the frame to hold the anchor member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch in the closed position and allows access to the notch when moved to the open position. The coupling may include a stop member to resist movement from the closed to the open position. The coupling also may include a web adjuster or other connecting device operatively disposed between the coupling and the device.

Claims

1. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said frame including a mouth having a seat configured to receive the anchor member;

a lever movably mounted to said frame, said lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a finger and said proximal end including an engagement portion;

said distal end of said lever extending beyond the seat of the notch in said frame;

wherein said lever has a normally closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member wherein said finger substantially covers the mouth and an open position wherein said finger is substantially removed from the mouth;

a stop member provided on said frame configured to normally engage said engagement portion to resist the movement of said lever from said normally closed position to said open position; and

a biasing member acting between said frame and said lever;

said biasing member normally urging said stop member and said engagement portion into engagement.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said lever moves pivotally relative to said frame.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said lever moves rectilinearly relative to said frame.

4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said lever moves both pivotally and rectilinearly relative to said frame.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said stop member moves rectilinearly relative to said frame.

6. The coupling of claim 1, further including a manipulation portion operatively connected to said lever and said stop member.

7. The coupling of claim 6, wherein applying a force to the manipulation portion moves the stop member and the engagement portion out of engagement.

8. The coupling of claim 6, wherein said manipulation portion moves said stop member rectilinearly relative to said frame.

9. The coupling of claim 8, wherein said proximal end of said lever further includes a camming portion, said stop member moving rectilinearly to abut said camming portion to pivot said lever to said open position when a force is applied to said manipulation portion.

10. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said frame includes two plates mounted on each side of said lever.

11. The coupling device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plates includes a mouth configured to receive the anchor member.

12. The coupling device of claim 10, wherein said frame is a monolithic structure.

13. The coupling device of claim 1, further including a housing configured to receive and mount therein said frame and said lever.

14. The coupling device of claim 13, wherein said housing includes a notch having a mouth and a seat configured to receive the anchor member.

15. The coupling device of claim 13, wherein said housing is a monolithic structure.

16. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said frame includes an anchor aperture to receive a connector to operatively attach the coupling.

17. The coupling of claim 16, wherein said connector comprises a web.

18. The coupling of claim 16, wherein said connector comprises a web operatively attached to a web adjuster.

19. The coupling of claim 16, wherein the connector operatively attaches the coupling to a child seat.

20. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a spring;

a monolithic frame having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section including a bottom surface and a pair of side surfaces projecting upwardly away from said bottom surface, each side surface including a mounting aperture, an elongated translating aperture, and a notch having a mouth and a seat configured to receive the anchor member, one side further including a coupling aperture and an anchor aperture configured to receive a connector;

a lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said lever including a elongated mounting aperture, said proximal end having an engagement portion, a camming portion, and a mounting portion to mount one end of said spring; and

said distal end having a finger;

a monolithic manipulation assembly having a substantially inverted U-shaped transverse cross-section including a manipulation portion having a mounting tab configured to mount the other end of said spring, said manipulation assembly further including a top surface and a pair of side surfaces projecting downwardly away from said top surface;

the downwardly projecting side surfaces each including an elongated translating aperture configured to receive a mounting member therein, and a stop aperture to receive a stop member therethrough; and

a monolithic housing including a proximal end having an opening, and a distal end having a notch with a mouth and a seat configured to receive the anchor member, said housing further including a coupling aperture;

wherein said lever is movably received between said downwardly projecting side surfaces and movably mounted between said upwardly projecting side surfaces by said mounting member passing through said mounting apertures;

said manipulation assembly movably mounted to said frame by said stop member passing through said translation apertures and said stop aperture.

21. The coupling of claim 20, wherein the spring is a coiled compression spring.

22. The coupling of claim 21, wherein said spring tends to urge the engagement portion and the stop member into abutment.

23. The coupling of claim 22, wherein said lever moves pivotally relative to said frame.

24. The coupling of claim 23, wherein said lever moves rectilinearly relative to said frame.

25. The coupling of claim 24, wherein said manipulation assembly moves rectilinearly relative to said frame.

26. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a frame having a distal end defining a mouth configured to receive the anchor member;

a lever movably mounted to said frame and having an open position to allow the anchor member to be received within the mouth and a normally closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member to retain the anchor member within the mouth;

a stop member provided on said frame; and

a biasing member urging the stop member and the lever into engagement such that said stop member resists movement of said lever from said normally closed position to said open position.

27. The coupling of claim 26, wherein said lever pivots about a mounting member provided on said frame moving between said closed position and said open position.

28. The coupling of claim 26, wherein said frame further includes an anchor aperture which receives a connector.

29. The coupling of claim 28, wherein said connector comprises a length of web.

30. The coupling of claim 28, wherein said connector comprises a length of web operatively coupled to a web adjuster.

31. The coupling of claim 28, wherein said connector comprises a rigid member.

32. The coupling of claim 31, wherein said rigid member is a screw.

33. The coupling of claim 28, further including a manipulation member operatively connected to the proximal end of said lever.

34. The coupling of claim 33, wherein the manipulation member moves said lever from the closed position to the open position upon a force being applied to said manipulation member.

35. The coupling of claim 28, wherein the coupling is configured to attach the connector to a child seat.

36. The coupling of claim 26, wherein said spring is a coiled compression spring.

37. The coupling of claim 26, wherein the frame further includes a plate mounted on each side of said lever.

38. The coupling of claim 37, wherein at least one of said plates is configured to at least partially define said mouth.

39. The coupling of claim 37, wherein said frame is a monolithic structure.

40. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a flame having a distal end defining a mouth configured to receive the anchor member and a proximal end defining an anchor aperture configured to attach the coupling to a child seat;

a lever movably mounted to said frame and having an open position to allow the anchor member to be received within the mouth and a normally closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member which retains the anchor member therein;

a spring acting between said frame and said lever to urge said lever into the closed position; and

a manipulation member in communication with the lever to move the lever between the open position and the normally closed position;

wherein the lever may be moved to the open position by forcing the anchor member into and through said lever when said lever is in said closed position.

41. The coupling of claim 40 further comprising a flexible member attached at one end to the anchor aperture and at the other end to the child seat.

42. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said frame including a mouth having a seat configured to receive the anchor member;

a lever movably mounted to said frame, said lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a finger and said proximal end including an engagement portion;

said distal end of said lever extending beyond the seat of the notch in said frame;

wherein said lever has a closed position wherein said finger substantially covers the mouth and an open position wherein said finger is substantially removed from the mouth;

a stop member provided on said frame configured to engage said engagement portion to resist the movement of said lever from said closed position to said open position; and

a biasing member acting between said frame and said lever;

said biasing member urging said stop member and said engagement portion into engagement;

wherein said lever moves rectilinearly relative to said frame.

43. The coupling of claim 42, wherein said lever moves both pivotally and rectilinearly relative to said frame.

44. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a frame having a distal end defining a mouth configured to receive the anchor member, the frame including an anchor aperture which receives a connector comprising a length of web;

a lever movably mounted to said frame and having an open position to allow the anchor member to be received within the mouth and a closed position to retain the anchor member within the mouth;

a stop member provided on said frame; and

a biasing member urging the stop member and the lever into engagement such that said stop member resists movement of said lever from said closed position to said open position.

45. The coupling of claim 44, wherein said length of web is operatively coupled to a web adjuster.

46. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising:

a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said frame including a mouth having a seat configured to receive the anchor member, the frame further including an anchor aperture to receive a connector comprising a length of web;

a lever movably mounted to said frame, said lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a finger and said proximal end including an engagement portion;

said distal end of said lever extending beyond the seat of the notch in said frame;

wherein said lever has a norm ally closed position wherein said finger substantially covers the mouth and an open position wherein said finger is substantially removed from the mouth;

a stop member provided on said frame configured to normally engage said engagement portion to resist the movement of said lever from said normally closed position to said open position; and

a biasing member acting between said frame and said lever;

said biasing member normally urging said stop member and said engagement portion into engagement.

47. The coupling of claim 46, wherein said length of web is operatively attached to a web adjuster.