Child restraint system with user interface

• US 8,950,809 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Inventors: Szakelyhidi, Dave, Daley, Robert D., Thorne, Henry F., Hopke, Frederick Karl, Walker, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, ALEXANDER SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/315,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 297/253, 2972501-25616, 297/217.2
• US Class Current: 297/253
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/269 detecting or alerting means responsive to the Isofix locking on the child seat or vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/272 Buckle lock sensors for child seat safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/273 with detection or alerting means responsive to crashes
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/274 characterised by the communication means between the child seat and another entity, e.g. vehicle or portable device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2816 with additional belt accessories, e.g. belt tension detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2842 adapted to carry the child, when dismounted from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 : using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 : Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/02 : Details

Abstract

A child car seat includes: a seat base secured to a seat of a vehicle; an infant carrier removably connected to the seat base; and an interface device coupled to at least one of the seat base or the infant carrier and configured to provide an indication to a user that the seat base is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A child car seat comprising:

a seat base secured to a seat of a vehicle;

a child receiving portion supported by the seat base;

at least one of a belt tensioning system incorporated into the seat base for receiving a belt that couples the seat base to the seat of the vehicle, and a leveling system incorporated into the seat base for leveling the child receiving portion relative to the seat of the vehicle;

a controller operatively coupled to at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system; and

an interface device mounted on at least one of the seat base or the child receiving portion and operatively connected to the controller to provide an indication to a user that the seat base is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle each time the child receiving portion is connected to the seat base,

wherein the controller activates at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system such that the belt tensioning system tensions the belt to a predetermined tension and the leveling system levels the child receiving portion to a predetermined angle relative to the seat of the vehicle.

2. The child car seat of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a display providing a visual indication to the user that the seat base is properly secured to the seat.

3. The child car seat of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with at least one of the seat base and the child receiving portion and configured to determine whether the child receiving portion is at a proper level, the belt securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle is at a proper tension, a handle of the child receiving portion is at a correct position, the belts securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle are not twisted, a harness securing a child within the child receiving portion is at a proper tension and a proper height, or any combination thereof.

4. The child car seat of claim 3, further comprising:

the controller operably coupled with the at least one sensor and configured to output to the interface device the indication that the seat base is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle.

5. The child car seat of claim 4, wherein the indication that the seat base is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle comprises an indication that the child receiving portion is at a proper level, that the belt securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle is at a proper tension, that a handle of the child receiving portion is at a correct position, that the belts securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle are not twisted, that a harness securing a child within the child receiving portion is at a proper tension and a proper height, or any combination thereof.

6. The child car seat of claim 1, wherein the belt received by the belt tensioning system is at least one of a seat belt of the vehicle or a belt of a LATCH system.

7. The child car seat of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor for determining tension of the belt received by the belt tensioning system; and

at least one sensor for determining the angle of the child receiving portion relative to the seat of the vehicle.

8. The child car seat of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor for determining tension and the at least one sensor for determining the angle are operatively coupled to the controller.

9. The child car seat of claim 8, wherein the controller activates the belt tensioning system and the leveling system such that the belt tensioning system tensions the belt to a predetermined tension and the leveling system levels the child receiving portion to a predetermined angle relative to the seat of the vehicle based on feedback from the at least one sensor for determining tension and the at least one sensor for determining the angle.

12. The child car seat of claim 1, wherein the controller guides a user through a process of installing the child car seat in the vehicle by soliciting information from at least one sensor associated with at least one of the seat base and the child receiving portion and providing at least one of audio and visual instructions via the interface device.

10. A child car seat comprising:

a seat base secured to a seat of a vehicle;

a child receiving portion supported by the seat base;

at least one sensor associated with at least one of the child receiving portion or the seat base;

at least one of a belt tensioning system incorporated into the seat base for receiving a belt that couples the seat base to the seat of the vehicle, and a leveling system incorporated into the seat base for leveling the child receiving portion relative to the seat of the vehicle;

a controller operatively coupled to at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system; and

an interface device mounted on at least one of the seat base or the child receiving portion and configured to guide a user through a process of installing the child car seat in the vehicle by soliciting information from the at least one sensor, provide at least one of audio and visual instructions regarding the process of installing, and provide an indication to a user that the seat base is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle each time the child receiving portion is coupled to the seat base,

wherein the controller activates at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system during the process of installing such that the belt tensioning system tensions the belt to a predetermined tension and the leveling system levels the child receiving portion to a predetermined angle relative to the seat of the vehicle.

11. The child car seat of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor associated with at least one of the child receiving portion or the seat base is configured to determine whether the child receiving portion is at a proper level, the belt securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle is at a proper tension, a handle of the infant carrier is at a correct position, the belts securing the seat base to the seat of the vehicle are not twisted, a harness securing a child within the infant carrier is at a proper tension and a proper height, or any combination thereof.

13. A child seat configured to be secured to a seat of a vehicle, comprising:

a seat base secured to the seat of the vehicle;

a child receiving portion supported by the seat base;

at least one of a belt tensioning system incorporated into the child seat for receiving a belt that couples the child seat to the seat of the vehicle, and a leveling system incorporated into the child seat for leveling the child receiving portion relative to the seat of the vehicle;

a controller operatively coupled to at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system, wherein the controller activates at least one of the belt tensioning system and the leveling system; and

at least one interface device operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the belt tensioning system tensions the belt to a predetermined tension and the leveling system levels the child receiving portion to a predetermined angle relative to the seat.

14. The child seat of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor connected to or associated with the child seat and operatively connected to the controller.

15. The child seat of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to provide at least one of installation instructions and status updates via the interface device, and wherein the controller selects at least one of specific installation instruction and status update based on feedback from the at least one sensor or a user input.

16. The child seat of claim 13, wherein at least one interface device is mounted on at least one of the seat base or the child receiving portion.

17. The child seat of claim 13, wherein at least one interface device is a detached mobile media device.

18. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to an on board computer of the vehicle.

19. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the controller provides at least one of alerts and acknowledgements via the interface device.

20. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the child seat is a rear-facing infant carrier, a forward facing infant carrier, a forward facing convertible seat, a rear facing convertible seat, or a booster seat.

21. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the child receiving portion is removably connected to the seat base.

22. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the interface device comprises at least one of an audio system and a visual display.

23. The child car seat of claim 13, wherein the belt received by the belt tensioning system is at least one of a seat belt of the vehicle or a belt of a LATCH system.

24. The child seat of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one sensor for determining tension of the belt received by the belt tensioning system; and

at least one sensor for determining the angle of the child receiving portion relative to the seat of the vehicle,

wherein the at least one sensor for determining tension and the at least one sensor for determining the angle are operatively coupled to the controller.