Child safety seat assembly

• US 8,556,344 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
• Original Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
• Inventors: Williams, Bruce L., Sellers, Gregory S., Hartenstine, Curtis M., Saint, Nathanael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOWRY, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US13/182,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.16, 297/256.13, 297/256.11, 297/256.1
• 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 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially

Abstract

A child safety seat assembly includes a child seat and a base. In one embodiment, the base can include a first portion having a bottom adapted to provide stable resting support, and a second portion extending upward from the first portion. The child seat can be installed on the base, wherein the child seat has a seat portion and a seatback, and is movable relative to adjust a distance between the seat portion and a region of the second portion in front of the seat portion. In other embodiments, a base suitable for use with a child seat is also described. The base can comprise a shell body, and an adjustable platform movably assembled on an upper guide surface of the shell body, wherein the adjustable platform is adapted to attach with the child seat.

Claims

1. A child safety seat assembly comprising:

a base including a shell body and an adjustable platform, the shell body having a first portion having a bottom adapted to provide stable resting support on a vehicle seat and a second portion extending upward from the first portion, the adjustable platform being movable along the first and second portions;

a latch mechanism operable to lock the adjustable platform with the shell body, wherein the latch mechanism includes;

an elongated rack affixed with the shell body and including a plurality of lock positions;

a latching element pivotally connected with the adjustable platform; and

a bar linkage having a transverse segment extending generally parallel to a width direction of the base and pivotally connected with the adjustable platform, and a side segment connected with the transverse segment, the latching element being affixed with the transverse segment of the bar linkage;

wherein the latching element is adapted to engage with one of the lock positions to lock the adjustable platform in position relative to the shell body;

a release mechanism connected with the latch mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes;

a release button assembled with the adjustable platform at a position adjacent to the side segment; and

a lever pivotally connected with the adjustable platform, wherein the lever has a first end adapted to contact with the release button, and a second end adapted to contact with the side segment;

wherein the release button is operable to drive the bar linkage in rotation via the lever to disengage the latching element from the rack; and

a child seat detachably installed on the base and having a seat portion and a seatback, wherein once the child seat is installed with the base and secured with the adjustable platform, the second portion of the base has a front-facing region that rises above and faces a front of the seat portion such that a leg room is delimited between the front-facing region and the front of the seat portion for receiving the legs of a child sitting on the child seat, a displacement of the child seat along with the adjustable platform concurrently causing a variation in a distance between the seat portion and the front-facing region of the second portion to adjust the leg room, and modification of an inclination of the child seat relative to the base.

2. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shell body defines a guide surface, and the adjustable platform is movable along the guide surface.

3. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface forms an arc-shaped slope that extends along a lengthwise axis of the shell body and continuously rises in a direction toward the second portion.

4. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion has an underside provided with a plurality of latches operable to lock with the base.

5. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism further includes:

a torsion spring configured to bias the latching element into engagement with the rack.

6. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shell body includes an elongated arm, and the adjustable platform includes a socket to which the release button is mounted, the socket having a slot through which the arm is mounted.

7. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shell body includes an elongated arm, and the adjustable platform includes a socket that is mounted on the arm, the socket is movable along the arm when the adjustable platform is adjusted back and forth relative to the shell body.

8. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein the shell body further has a guide surface along which the adjustable platform is movable, the guide surface forms an arc-shaped slope that extends along a lengthwise axis of the shell body and continuously rises in a direction toward the second portion, and the elongated arm is curved to generally match with the slope of the guide surface.

9. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 1, being adapted for installation on a vehicle seat with the second portion positioned adjacent to a backrest of the vehicle seat.

10. A child safety seat assembly comprising:

a base including a shell body, and an adjustable platform movably assembled with the shell body, wherein the shell body includes an elongated arm, a first portion having a bottom adapted to provide a stable resting support, and a second portion extending upward from the first portion, and the adjustable platform includes a socket that is mounted on the arm, the socket being movable along the arm when the adjustable platform is adjusted relative to the shell body;

a latch mechanism mounted between the shell body and the adjustable platform and operable to lock the adjustable platform with the shell body;

a release mechanism including a release button mounted adjacent to the socket and operable to unlock the latch mechanism; and

a child seat detachably installed on the base and having a seat portion and a seatback, wherein the child seat is movable with the adjustable platform to change a distance between the seat portion and a region of the second portion in front of the seat portion.

11. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the latch mechanism includes:

an elongated rack including a plurality of lock positions, wherein the rack is affixed with the shell body; and

a latching element movably connected with the adjustable platform, wherein the latching element is operable to engage with one of the lock positions to lock the adjustable platform with the shell body;

wherein the release button is operable to drive the latching element to disengage from the rack.

12. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the arm, the socket and the release button are located at one of a left and right side of the child seat.

13. A base for use with a child safety seat, comprising:

a shell body defining a guide surface and including an elongated arm;

an adjustable platform assembled with the shell body for movements along the guide surface of the shell body, the adjustable platform being operable to detachably fasten with a child seat;

an elongated rack including a plurality of lock positions, wherein the rack is affixed with the shell body;

a latching element connected with the adjustable platform, wherein the latching element is operable to engage with one of the lock positions to lock the adjustable platform with the shell body;

a socket assembled on the arm, the socket being movable along the arm when the adjustable platform is moved along the guide surface; and

a release button assembled with the socket on the adjustable platform, the release button being operable to drive the latching element to disengage from the rack.

14. The base according to claim 13, wherein the shell body further includes a first portion having an enlarged bottom to provide stable resting support, and a second portion extending upward at an angle from the first portion, and the guide surface forms an arc-shaped slope that extends along a lengthwise axis of the shell body and continuously rises in a direction toward the second portion, whereby a movement of the adjustable platform relative to the shell body simultaneously adjusts a distance between the adjustable platform and a region of the second portion and an inclination of the adjustable platform relative to the shell body.

15. The base according to claim 14, being adapted for installation on a vehicle seat with the second portion positioned adjacent to a backrest of the vehicle seat.