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

  • US 9,963,051 B2
  • Filed: 02/15/2017
  • Issued: 05/08/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. 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; and

    a tensioning mechanism having a proximal end pivotally attached to the backrest portion of the seat base and a distal end comprising a sitting surface for an occupant of the child seat and an engaging surface facing opposite to the sitting surface, the tensioning mechanism configured to be movable between a first position and a second position and that is configured to be locked in the first position, the tensioning mechanism having an end attached to the backrest portion such that the tensioning mechanism is configured to rotate between the first position and 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, and 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 between the engaging surface and the seat base, and wherein movement of the first and second lateral edge surfaces responsive to movement of the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position causes the first and second lateral edge surfaces to displace the vehicle belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration;

    wherein locking the tensioning mechanism in the first position is caused by engagement between two locking members configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to a sleeve of the tensioning mechanism and two lock receiving portions disposed to face respective ones of the two locking members when the tensioning mechanism is in the first position, the two locking members automatically translating to the extended position to cause the two locking members to be locked with the two lock receiving portions at a location disposed between the opposing side portions of the seat base when the first and second lateral edge surfaces are in contact with the vehicle belt as the tensioning mechanism moves from the second position to the first position, andwherein the two locking members are biased toward the extended position and are configured to translate toward the retracted position when the tensioning mechanism rotates to the first position and then the two locking members translate back to the extended position to engage the two lock receiving portions.

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