Forward and rearward facing child seat with belt tensioning mechanism for improved installation

• US 9,586,504 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Britax Child Safety Incorporated (Cc 1 (2011) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Britax Child Safety Incorporated (Cc 1 (2011) Ltd.)
• Inventors: Strong, Lynn Curtis, Gunter, Mark, Reed, Scott Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/294,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 144 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2851 provided with head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2872 provided with side rests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A child seat including a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child seat to a vehicle seat is provided herein. The child seat, which may be front- and/or rear-facing, includes a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat base can receive an untensioned belt to secure the child seat to a vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. A tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion and is rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the backrest portion and a second position disposed therefrom. In the second position, the tensioning mechanism can receive a portion of the belt. In the first position, the tensioning mechanism applies tension to the portion of the received belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. Methods of manufacturing child seats are also provided herein.

Claims

1. A child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat in both a rear-facing and a forward-facing orientation by a belt of the vehicle seat, the child seat comprising:

a seat base comprising a seat portion, a backrest portion, first and second lateral edges that protrude forwardly and upwardly from the seat and backrest portions, a first belt path generally at a middle of the seat portion in a forward and rearward direction, and a second belt path generally at an intersection of the seat and backrest portions; and

a tensioning mechanism attached to the seat base to be movable between a first position and a second position, the tensioning mechanism having an end attached to the backrest portion at an axis such that the tensioning mechanism rotates between the first position and the second position pivotally about the axis, and wherein the tensioning mechanism has a first lateral edge surface and a second lateral edge surface, the first and second lateral edge surfaces extending along respective sides of the tensioning mechanism from and transverse to the axis, wherein in the first position, the tensioning mechanism is substantially adjacent to the seat base, and wherein in the second position, the tensioning mechanism is at least partly displaced from the seat base in order to enable at least one of the first belt path or the second belt path to receive the belt,

wherein the first belt path is configured to allow a user to position the belt to be displaced by the first and second lateral edge surfaces relative to the first and second lateral edges to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the rear-facing orientation, wherein the second belt path is configured to allow the user to position the belt to be displaced by the first and second lateral edge surfaces relative to the first and second lateral edges to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the forward-facing orientation, and

wherein in each of the forward or rear-facing orientations, the first and second lateral edge surfaces of respective different portions of the tensioning mechanism displace the belt to apply tension to the belt.

2. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the first belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the seat portion of the seat base.

3. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the second belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the backrest portion of the seat base.

4. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is attached to the backrest portion so that the first and second edge surfaces are movable from the second position to the first position in response to receipt of a substantially vertical force.

5. A child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat in a rear-facing orientation in which an occupant of the child seat faces toward a backrest of the vehicle seat and a forward-facing orientation in which an occupant of the child seat faces away from the vehicle backrest, where the vehicle seat has a vehicle belt having a lap portion and a shoulder portion, the child seat comprising:

a seat base comprising a seat portion and a backrest portion, and first and second lateral edges that protrude forwardly and upwardly from the seat and backrest portions;

a first belt path generally at a middle of the seat portion in a forward and rearward direction, and a second belt path generally at an intersection of the seat and backrest portions; and

a tensioning mechanism attached to the seat base to be movable between a first position and a second position, the tensioning mechanism having an end attached to the backrest portion at an axis such that the tensioning mechanism is rotatable between the first position and the second position pivotally about the axis, and wherein the tensioning mechanism has a first rigid edge surface and a second rigid edge surface, the first and second rigid edge surfaces extending along respective sides of the tensioning mechanism from and transverse to the axis,

wherein in the first position, the first and second rigid edge surfaces are substantially adjacent to the seat base, and wherein in the second position, the first and second rigid edge surfaces are at least partly displaced from the seat base so that the lap section of the vehicle belt and the shoulder section of the vehicle belt are received by the backrest portion from a gap between the first and second rigid edge surfaces and the backrest portion so that application of tension to the vehicle belt retains the child seat in the forward-facing orientation with respect to the vehicle seat,

wherein movement of the first and second rigid edge surfaces from the second position to the first position causes the first and second rigid edge surfaces to displace a portion of the shoulder section and a portion of the lap section of the vehicle belt with respect to a surface of the backrest portion to thereby increase the tension in the vehicle belt that retains the child seat in the forward-facing orientation,

wherein, in the forward-facing orientation, the first and second rigid edge surfaces of a first portion of the tensioning mechanism displace the belt to apply tension to the belt in the second belt path, and

wherein, in the rear-facing orientation, the first and second rigid edge surfaces of a second portion of the tensioning mechanism displace the belt to apply tension to the belt.

6. The child seat according to claim 5, wherein the first belt path is configured to allow a user to position the lap section and the shoulder section of the vehicle belt to be displaced by the first and second rigid edge surfaces to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the rear-facing orientation, wherein the second belt path is configured to allow the user to position the lap section and the shoulder section of the vehicle belt to be displaced by the first and second rigid edge surfaces to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the forward-facing orientation.

7. The child seat according to claim 6, wherein the first belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the seat portion of the seat base.

8. The child seat according to claim 6, wherein the second belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the backrest portion of the seat base.

9. A child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat in both a rear-facing and a forward-facing orientation with a vehicle belt, the child seat comprising:

a seat base comprising a seat portion, a backrest portion, and opposing side portions that protrude forwardly from the backrest portion and upwardly from the seat portion;

a first belt path generally at a middle of the seat portion in a forward and rearward direction, and a second belt path generally at an intersection of the seat and backrest portions; and

a tensioning mechanism attached to the seat base to be movable between a first position and a second position and comprising an engaging surface, the tensioning mechanism having an end attached to the backrest portion such that the tensioning mechanism is configured to rotate downwardly to the first position from the second position about an axis, and wherein the tensioning mechanism has a first lateral edge surface and a second lateral edge surface, the first and second lateral edge surfaces extending along respective sides of the tensioning mechanism from and transverse to the axis,

wherein in the first position, the first and second lateral edge surfaces are substantially adjacent to the seat base,

wherein in the second position, the first and second lateral edge surfaces are at least partly displaced from the seat base in order to receive the vehicle belt,

wherein movement of the first and second lateral edge surfaces from the second position to the first position causes the engaging surface, which is disposed between the first and second lateral edge surfaces, to press a first portion of the vehicle belt against the opposing side portions and deflect a second portion of the vehicle belt to be closer to the seat portion or backrest portion than the first portion of the vehicle belt in order to apply tension to the vehicle belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration, and

wherein in each of the forward or rear-facing orientations, respective different portions of the first and second lateral edge surfaces of the tensioning mechanism displace the belt to apply tension to the belt.

10. The child seat according to claim 9, wherein the first belt path is configured to allow a user to position the vehicle belt to be displaced by the first and second lateral edge surfaces to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the rear-facing orientation, wherein the second belt path is configured to allow the user to position the vehicle belt to be displaced by the first and second lateral edge surfaces to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the forward-facing orientation.

11. The child seat according to claim 10, wherein the first belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the seat portion of the seat base.

12. The child seat according to claim 10, wherein the second belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the backrest portion of the seat base.

13. A child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat in both a rear-facing and a forward-facing orientation by a belt of the vehicle seat, the child seat comprising:

a seat base comprising a seat portion, a backrest portion, a first belt path generally at a middle of the seat portion in a forward and rearward direction, and a second belt path generally at an intersection of the seat and backrest portions, first and second lateral edges that protrude forwardly and upwardly from opposing sides of the backrest portion proximate to the second belt path, third and fourth lateral edges that protrude forwardly and upwardly from opposing sides of the seat portion proximate to the first belt path;

a pivot structure having a first pivot portion comprising a first lateral edge member and a second lateral edge member, the pivot structure attached to the backrest portion at an axis such that the pivot structure rotates between a first position and a second position pivotally about the axis, the first and second lateral edge members extending away from the backrest and substantially perpendicular to the axis, wherein in the first position, the first pivot portion is substantially adjacent to the seat base, and wherein in the second position, the first pivot portion is at least partly displaced from the seat base in order to enable the second belt path to receive the belt;

the pivot structure having a second pivot portion comprising a third lateral edge member and a fourth lateral edge member, the third and fourth lateral edge members moving between a third position proximate to the seat portion and a fourth position at least partly displaced from the seat portion in order to enable the first belt path to receive the belt,

wherein the first belt path is configured to allow a user to position the belt to be displaced by the third and fourth lateral edge members relative to the third and fourth lateral edges to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the rear-facing orientation, and

wherein the second belt path is configured to allow the user to position the belt to be displaced by the first and second lateral edge members relative to the first and second lateral edges to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat when the child seat is in the forward-facing orientation.

14. The child seat according to claim 13, wherein the first belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the seat portion of the seat base.

15. The child seat according to claim 13, wherein the second belt path extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the child seat across the backrest portion of the seat base.