Child restraint including adjustable base

• US 7,887,128 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cosco Management Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cosco Management Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zink, Paul T., Mendenhall, Andrew B., Midkiff, Todd C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/470,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.13, 297/250.1
• US Class Current: 297/256.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2824 part of the base being supported by the vehicle frame B60N2/289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially

Abstract

A child restraint includes an infant carrier and a base for supporting the infant carrier. The base is configure to be tethered to a passenger seat in a vehicle. The base can be adjusted to tilt the infant carrier relative to the passenger seat.

Claims

1. A child restraint comprising

an adjustable base including a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle, a tiltable carrier cradle mounted on the cradle support for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the cradle support to change angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support, and a tilt controller coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the cradle support,

a detachable infant carrier configured to mate temporarily with the tiltable carrier cradle and move therewith relative to the cradle support during pivotable movement of the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis, wherein the tilt controller includes a cradle-orientation changer comprising a rotatable actuator mounted on the cradle support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a cradle elevator coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the rotatable actuator and configured to pivot the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation,

wherein the cradle support is formed to include an interior region and an actuator-receiver aperture opening into the interior region and the rotatable actuator includes an interior section located in the interior region of the cradle support and engaged to the cradle elevator and an exterior section coupled to the interior section and arranged to extend through the actuator-receiver aperture and provide a terminal end lying outside the interior region,

wherein the interior section of the rotatable actuator includes elevator-mover means for moving the cradle elevator relative to the cradle support to cause the tiltable carrier cradle to pivot about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation caused by a torque applied to the exterior section of the rotatable actuator so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed, and

wherein the elevator-mover means is a worm, the cradle elevator includes a cradle-mover rod mounted for sliding movement in a cradle-pivot channel formed in the tiltable carrier cradle between a first position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in an initial position relative to cradle support and a second position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in a first tilted position relative to the cradle support, and the cradle elevator further includes a rod-mover block coupled to the cradle-mover rod and formed to include a worm gear mating with the worm to establish worm-drive means for moving the rod-mover block along the axis of rotation to cause the cradle-mover rod to move in the cradle-pivot channel between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed.

2. The child restraint of claim 1, wherein the interior section of the rotatable actuator further includes an inner journal that turns in a first bearing included in the cradle support during rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation, the exterior section of the rotatable actuator includes an outer journal that turns in a second bearing included in the cradle support during rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation, and the elevator-mover means is located between the inner and outer journals.

3. The child restraint of claim 1, wherein the worm gear is formed to include a central passageway, the worm is arranged to extend through the central passageway, and the rod-mover block is arranged to move relative to the worm along the axis of rotation during rotation of the worm in the central passageway about the axis of rotation.

4. A child restraint comprising

an adjustable base including a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle, a tiltable carrier cradle mounted on the cradle support for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the cradle support to change angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support, and a tilt controller coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the cradle support,

a detachable infant carrier configured to mate temporarily with the tiltable carrier cradle and move therewith relative to the cradle support during pivotable movement of the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis, wherein the tilt controller includes a cradle-orientation changer comprising a rotatable actuator mounted on the cradle support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a cradle elevator coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the rotatable actuator and configured to pivot the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation,

wherein the cradle support is formed to include an interior region and an actuator-receiver aperture opening into the interior region and the rotatable actuator includes an interior section located in the interior region of the cradle support and engaged to the cradle elevator and an exterior section coupled to the interior section and arranged to extend through the actuator-receiver aperture and provide a terminal end lying outside the interior region,

wherein the interior section of the rotatable actuator includes elevator-mover means for moving the cradle elevator relative to the cradle support to cause the tiltable carrier cradle to pivot about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation caused by a torque applied to the exterior section of the rotatable actuator so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed, and

wherein the tilt controller includes an actuator-driver knob configured to provide means for rotating the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the actuator-driver knob about the axis of rotation, the tilt controller further includes a cradle-pivot blocker system including a lock tooth coupled to the actuator-driver knob and a pair of tooth blockers coupled to the cradle support and arranged to define a tooth receiver therebetween sized to receive the lock tooth therein, and the actuator-driver knob is mounted for sliding movement along the exterior section of the rotatable actuator between an inner position in close proximity to the cradle support to locate the lock tooth in the tooth receiver to confront the pair of tooth blockers to block rotation of the actuator-driver knob about the axis of rotation and an outer position away from the cradle support to withdraw the lock tooth from the lock receiver to free the actuator-driver knob to rotate about the axis of rotation.

5. The child restraint of claim 4, wherein the cradle-pivot blocker system further includes a spring coupled to each of the rotatable actuator and the actuator-driver knob and arranged to yieldably urge the actuator-driver knob along the exterior section of the rotatable actuator normally to assume the inner position to block rotation of the actuator-driver knob about the axis of rotation.

6. The child restraint of claim 5, wherein the spring is arranged to lie outside the cradle support and inside the actuator-driver knob.

7. A child restraint comprising

an adjustable base including a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle, a tiltable carrier cradle mounted on the cradle support for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the cradle support to change angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support, and a tilt controller coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the cradle support,

a detachable infant carrier configured to mate temporarily with the tiltable carrier cradle and move therewith relative to the cradle support during pivotable movement of the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis, wherein the tilt controller includes a cradle-orientation changer comprising a rotatable actuator mounted on the cradle support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a cradle elevator coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the rotatable actuator and configured to pivot the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation,

wherein the rotatable actuator includes elevator-mover means for moving the cradle elevator relative to the cradle support to cause the tiltable carrier cradle to pivot about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation caused by a torque applied to the exterior section of the rotatable actuator so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed, and

wherein the elevator-mover means is a worm, the cradle elevator includes a cradle-mover rod mounted for sliding movement in a cradle-pivot channel formed in the tiltable carrier cradle between a first position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in an initial position relative to cradle support and a second position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in a first tilted position relative to the cradle support, and the cradle elevator further includes a rod-mover block coupled to the cradle-mover rod and formed to include a worm gear mating with the worm to establish worm-drive means for moving the rod-mover block along the axis of rotation to cause the cradle-mover rod to move in the cradle-pivot channel between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed.

8. A child restraint comprising

an adjustable base including a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle, a tiltable carrier cradle mounted on the cradle support for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the cradle support to change angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support, and a tilt controller coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the cradle support,

a detachable infant carrier configured to mate temporarily with the tiltable carrier cradle and move therewith relative to the cradle support during pivotable movement of the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis, wherein the tilt controller includes a cradle-orientation changer comprising a rotatable actuator mounted on the cradle support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a cradle elevator coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the rotatable actuator and configured to pivot the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation,

wherein the cradle elevator includes a worm gear and a linkage coupled to the worm gear and to the tiltable carrier cradle and configured to move the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis relative to the cradle support in response to movement of the worm, gear relative to the rotatable actuator and the rotatable actuator includes a worm mated to the worm gear and configured to rotate about the axis of rotation in response to rotation of rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation, and

wherein the tilt controller further includes a changer regulator associated with the rotatable actuator and the cradle support and the changer regulator includes an actuator-driver knob coupled to the rotatable actuator and a releasable actuator lock coupled to the actuator-driver knob and to the cradle support and configured to block rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation at the option of a caregiver to establish a selected angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support.

9. A child restraint comprising

an adjustable base including a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle, a tiltable carrier, cradle mounted on the cradle support for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the cradle support to change angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support, and a tilt controller coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the cradle support,

a detachable infant carrier configured to mate temporarily with the tiltable carrier cradle and move therewith relative to the cradle support during pivotable movement of the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis, wherein the tilt controller includes a cradle-orientation changer comprising a rotatable actuator mounted on the cradle support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a cradle elevator coupled to the tiltable carrier cradle and to the rotatable actuator and configured to pivot the tiltable carrier cradle about the pivot axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation, and

wherein the tilt controller further includes a changer regulator associated with the rotatable actuator and the cradle support and the changer regulator includes an actuator-driver knob coupled to the rotatable actuator and a releasable actuator lock coupled to the actuator-driver knob and to the cradle support and configured to block rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation at the option of a caregiver to establish a selected angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support.

10. The child restraint of claim 9, wherein the changer regulator further includes a spring coupled to each of the rotatable actuator and the actuator-driver knob and arranged to yieldably urge the actuator-driver knob along the exterior section of the rotatable actuator normally to assume the inner position to block rotation of the actuator-driver knob about the axis of rotation.

11. A child restraint comprising

a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle,

a tiltable carrier cradle mounted for angular movement relative to the cradle support,

a worm included in a rotatable actuator supported for rotation about an axis of rotation on the cradle support,

a cradle elevator including a worm gear mated to the worm and configured to move along the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the worm about the axis of rotation and a linkage coupled to the worm gear and to the tiltable carrier cradle and configured to move the tiltable carrier cradle angularly relative to the cradle support to establish an angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle in response to movement of the worm gear along the axis of rotation, and

wherein the linkage includes a cradle-mover rod mounted for sliding movement in a cradle-pivot channel formed in the tiltable carrier cradle between a first position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in an initial position relative to cradle support and a second position wherein the tiltable carrier cradle is arranged to lie in a first tilted position relative to the cradle support, and the linkage further includes a rod-mover block coupled to the cradle-mover rod and formed to include the worm gear, the worm is mated to the worm gear to establish worm-drive means for moving the rod-mover block along the axis of rotation to cause the cradle-mover rod to move in the cradle-pivot channel between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation so that the angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support is changed.

12. The child restraint of claim 11, wherein the rotatable actuator further includes an inner journal that turns in a first bearing included in the cradle support during rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation, and an outer journal that turns in a second bearing included in the cradle support during rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation and the worm is located between the inner and outer journals.

13. The child restraint of claim 11, wherein the worm gear is formed to include a central passageway, the worm is arranged to extend through the central passageway, and the rod-mover block is arranged to move relative to the worm along the axis of rotation during rotation of the worm in the central passageway about the axis of rotation.

14. A child restraint comprising

a cradle support adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle,

a tiltable carrier cradle mounted for angular movement relative to the cradle support,

a worm included in a rotatable actuator supported for rotation about an axis of rotation on the cradle support,

a cradle elevator including a worm gear mated to the worm and configured to move along the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the worm about the axis of rotation and a linkage coupled to the worm gear and to the tiltable carrier cradle and configured to move the tiltable carrier cradle angularly relative to the cradle support to establish an angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle in response to movement of the worm gear along the axis of rotation, and

wherein the tilt controller further includes a changer regulator associated with the rotatable actuator and the cradle support and the changer regulator includes an actuator-driver knob coupled to the rotatable actuator and a releasable actuator lock coupled to the actuator-driver knob and to the cradle support and configured to block rotation of the rotatable actuator about the axis of rotation at the option of a caregiver to establish a selected angular orientation of the tiltable carrier cradle relative to the cradle support.