Child-proof lock assembly

• US 7,367,092 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marlene A. Dilday
• Original Assignee: Marlene A. Dilday
• Inventors: Dilday, Marlene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain; James R
• Application Number:
  US11/344,675
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 246/14, 246/15, 241/70, 241/88, 243/12, 243/13, 245/871.2, 24D/IG.38, 24D/IG.42, 297/483, 297/484, 280/808
• US Class Current: 24/615
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2200/12 made of two identical elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/38 Each mating member having similarly shaped, sized, and operated interlocking face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45194 for belt or strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage

Abstract

A lock and harness assembly includes first and second locks removably attached to each other. The locks are coextensively shaped, and are independently and simultaneously pivotal between folded and unfolded positions. Each lock has a linear medial edge conjoined to the other'"'"'s medial edge when the locks are at a locked position. First and second harnesses traverse through the first and second locks. The harnesses are slidably positioned through the locks. Each lock includes a mechanism for statically holding the harnesses at a locked position such that the harnesses are prohibited from sliding through the locks after the locks have been coupled. Each lock includes a mechanism for releasably coupling the locks to each other such that the locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to the harnesses.

Claims

1. A combined child-proof lock and harness assembly for a child vehicle car seat, said lock and harness assembly comprising:

first and second locks removably attached directly to each other;

first and second harnesses traversed through said first and second locks such that said first and second harnesses remain spaced apart when said first and second locks are attached to each other, wherein said first and second harnesses are slidably positioned through said first and second locks;

wherein each of said first and second locks comprises

means for statically holding said first and second harnesses at a locked position such that said first and second harnesses are prohibited from sliding through said first and second locks after said first and second locks have been attached to each other, and

means for releasably coupling said first and second locks directly to each other such that said first and second locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to said first and second harnesses respectively;

wherein each of said first and second locks have a linear medial edge directly conjoined to each other when said first and second locks are coupled at a locked position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second locks further comprises:

a base section having planar top and bottom surfaces; and

a top flap pivotally connected directly to a laterally disposed edge of said base section such that said top flap articulates along a fulcrum axis disposed registered parallel to the longitudinal length of said first and second harnesses;

wherein said first and second harnesses are intercalated between said base sections and said top flaps respectively.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second harness holding means comprises:

a plurality of coextensively shaped rigid pins equidistantly spaced along opposed edges of each of said base sections respectively, said pins extending upwardly from said top surfaces of said base sections and being oriented orthogonal thereto, each of said first and second harnesses having flexible faces directly mateable with associated ones of said pins such that said pins firmly engage said first and second harnesses when said first and second locks are pivoted to a folded position.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said releasably coupling means comprises:

a pair of rectilinear arms protruding outwardly from said linear medial edges of each of said base sections respectively, each of said rectilinear arms having a flanged distal end provided with a laterally offset shoulder;

wherein each of said base sections includes a plurality of cavities formed in said linear medial edges thereof, each of said base sections further includes a plurality of window openings formed in said bottom surfaces respectively, said arms being telescopically inserted through said cavities and along a linear path defined orthogonal to the longitudinal lengths of said first and second harnesses wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms become seated within said window openings when said first and second locks are fully engaged to the locked position.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms are visible from said bottom surface of said base sections and are resiliently adaptable towards said top surfaces of said base sections respectively for releasing said arms from said cavities and thereby unlocking said first and second locks, wherein said top flaps are pivotal to an unfolded position while said arms are nested within said cavities.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said base sections further includes a clasp for receiving said lateral edge of each of said top flaps so that said top flaps and said base sections remain at the folded position during locked modes.

7. A combined child-proof lock and harness assembly for a child vehicle car seat, said lock and harness assembly comprising:

first and second locks removably attached directly to each other, wherein said first and second locks are coextensively shaped;

first and second harnesses traversed through said first and second locks such that said first and second harnesses remain spaced apart when said first and second locks are attached to each other, wherein said first and second harnesses are slidably positioned through said first and second locks;

wherein each of said first and second locks comprises

means for statically holding said first and second harnesses at a locked position such that said first and second harnesses are prohibited from sliding through said first and second locks after said first and second locks have been attached to each other, and

means for releasably coupling said first and second locks directly to each other such that said first and second locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to said first and second harnesses respectively;

wherein each of said first and second locks have a linear medial edge directly conjoined to each other when said first and second locks are coupled at a locked position.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said first and second locks further comprises:

a base section having planar top and bottom surfaces; and

a top flap pivotally connected directly to a laterally disposed edge of said base section such that said top flap articulates along a fulcrum axis disposed registered parallel to the longitudinal length of said first and second harnesses;

wherein said first and second harnesses are intercalated between said base sections and said top flaps respectively.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first and second harness holding means comprises:

a plurality of coextensively shaped rigid pins equidistantly spaced along opposed edges of each of said base sections respectively, said pins extending upwardly from said top surfaces of said base sections and being oriented orthogonal thereto, each of said first and second harnesses having flexible faces directly mateable with associated ones of said pins such that said pins firmly engage said first and second harnesses when said first and second locks are pivoted to a folded position.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said releasably coupling means comprises:

a pair of rectilinear arms protruding outwardly from said linear medial edges of each of said base sections respectively, each of said rectilinear arms having a flanged distal end provided with a laterally offset shoulder;

wherein each of said base sections includes a plurality of cavities formed in said linear medial edges thereof, each of said base sections further includes a plurality of window openings formed in said bottom surfaces respectively, said arms being telescopically inserted through said cavities and along a linear path defined orthogonal to the longitudinal lengths of said first and second harnesses wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms become seated within said window openings when said first and second locks are fully engaged to the locked position.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms are visible from said bottom surface of said base sections and are resiliently adaptable towards said top surfaces of said base sections respectively for releasing said arms from said cavities and thereby unlocking said first and second locks, wherein said top flaps are pivotal to an unfolded position while said arms are nested within said cavities.

12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said base sections further includes a clasp for receiving said lateral edge of each of said top flaps so that said top flaps and said base sections remain at the folded position during locked modes.

13. A combined child-proof lock and harness assembly for a child vehicle car seat, said lock and harness assembly comprising:

first and second locks removably attached directly to each other, wherein said first and second locks are coextensively shaped, wherein said first and second locks are independently and simultaneously pivotal between folded and unfolded positions;

first and second harnesses traversed through said first and second locks such that said first and second harnesses remain spaced apart when said first and second locks are attached to each other, wherein said first and second harnesses are slidably positioned through said first and second locks;

wherein each of said first and second locks comprises

means for statically holding said first and second harnesses at a locked position such that said first and second harnesses are prohibited from sliding through said first and second locks after said first and second locks have been attached to each other, and

means for releasably coupling said first and second locks directly to each other such that said first and second locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to said first and second harnesses respectively;

wherein each of said first and second locks have a linear medial edge directly conjoined to each other when said first and second locks are coupled at a locked position.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein each of said first and second locks further comprises:

a base section having planar top and bottom surfaces; and

a top flap pivotally connected directly to a laterally disposed edge of said base section such that said top flap articulates along a fulcrum axis disposed registered parallel to the longitudinal length of said first and second harnesses;

wherein said first and second harnesses are intercalated between said base sections and said top flaps respectively.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second harness holding means comprises:

a plurality of coextensively shaped rigid pins equidistantly spaced along opposed edges of each of said base sections respectively, said pins extending upwardly from said top surfaces of said base sections and being oriented orthogonal thereto, each of said first and second harnesses having flexible faces directly mateable with associated ones of said pins such that said pins firmly engage said first and second harnesses when said first and second locks are pivoted to a folded position.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said releasably coupling means comprises:

a pair of rectilinear arms protruding outwardly from said linear medial edges of each of said base sections respectively, each of said rectilinear arms having a flanged distal end provided with a laterally offset shoulder;

wherein each of said base sections includes a plurality of cavities formed in said linear medial edges thereof, each of said base sections further includes a plurality of window openings formed in said bottom surfaces respectively, said arms being telescopically inserted through said cavities and along a linear path defined orthogonal to the longitudinal lengths of said first and second harnesses wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms become seated within said window openings when said first and second locks are fully engaged to the locked position.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said flanged distal ends of said arms are visible from said bottom surface of said base sections and are resiliently adaptable towards said top surfaces of said base sections respectively for releasing said arms from said cavities and thereby unlocking said first and second locks, wherein said top flaps are pivotal to an unfolded position while said arms are nested within said cavities.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein each of said base sections further includes a clasp for receiving said lateral edge of each of said top flaps so that said top flaps and said base sections remain at the folded position during locked modes.