Patent Grant
9963051
The present invention generally relates to the field of child safety seats, and more particularly, to a child safety seat that may be used in either a forward facing or rearward facing orientation and includes a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child safety seat to a vehicle seat, thereby providing for easier installation of the child safety seat to the vehicle seat.
Child safety seating products are designed to protect children in vehicles from the effects of impacts or other sudden changes in motion (e.g., sudden deceleration). Child safety seats, commonly referred to simply as child seats, may be used in a variety of vehicles with a variety of seating orientations. For example, it is often recommended for the youngest children to use rear-facing child seats for additional safety, while forward-facing seats can be used when the child reaches an appropriate size. It is important for a child seat to be properly secured to the vehicle seat to protect the occupant, particularly during an impact.
Some child safety seats are secured to a vehicle seat with the seat belt of the vehicle. In such situations, securing the child seat may be awkward and difficult. Moreover, maintaining a proper amount of tension in the seat belt can also be difficult. Indeed, an improper amount of tension is undesirable and may negatively affect the safety of the occupant secured within the child seat. It would be advantageous to have an easy-to-use and secure child seat that may be used in either a forward-facing or rear-facing configuration depending on the parents' needs.
Example embodiments of the present invention include a child seat that may be secured to a vehicle seat in both a rear-facing and front-facing orientation. The child seat may define a seat base that may define a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat base may be designed to receive a seat belt from a vehicle seat and secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. The seat belt may secure the child seat to the vehicle seat by using a tensioning mechanism that is attached to the seat base. In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism may be moved between a first position that is adjacent to the seat base and a second position that is displaced from the seat base. The second position of the tensioning mechanism may allow the seat belt to be received by the seat base, while the first position holds the belt in a tensioned configuration. Moving the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position may apply the tension to the belt. The child seat may be able to receive the belt and apply tension to it when the child seat is in either or both of a rear-facing and front-facing orientation.
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism may rotate between the first and second positions. By receiving a substantially vertical force, the tensioning mechanism may rotate from the second position to the first position and apply tension to the belt.
In some embodiments, the seat base may define a first edge and a second edge. The first and second edges may be configured to receive the belt and thereby define a first belt path spanning the first and second edges. Additionally, each of the first and second edges may have an inlet and a retaining channel, such that each inlet channel may guide the belt into the respective retaining channel. In some embodiments, the seat base may receive the belt so as to define the first belt path when the child seat is in the rear-facing orientation. The seat base may define a second belt path spanning the first and second edges when the child seat is in the front-facing configuration. In some embodiments, first belt path may be defined between the tensioning mechanism and the seat base at a position proximate an intermediate region of the seat portion. The second belt path may be defined between the tensioning mechanism and the seat base at a position proximate an intersection of the seat portion and backrest portion of the seat base.
Additionally, in some embodiments, a force for moving the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position while the belt is in the first belt path is substantially similar to a force for moving the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position while the belt is in the second belt path. The resulting tension applied to the belt in the first belt path may be substantially similar to the resulting tension applied to the belt in the second belt path.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism may comprise an engaging surface that is adjacent a surface of the seat base when the tension mechanism is in the first position. A portion of the first belt path corresponding to the first and second edges may be positioned higher than a portion of the first belt path corresponding to the engaging surface of the tensioning mechanism, such that a portion of the belt engaged by the engaging surface may be deflected substantially towards the seat base with respect to portions of the belt engaged by the first and second edges when the tensioning mechanism is in the first position.
In some embodiments, the seat base may provide an open belt path, such that the seat base is configured to receive an edge of the belt when the tensioning mechanism is in the second position while the belt is in a buckled position with the vehicle seat.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the child seat may comprise a harness defining a first harness portion and a second harness portion. The first harness portion and the second harness portion may each be configured to rotate with the tensioning mechanism between the first position and the second position, such that the harness may be displaced away from the first belt path when the tension mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position.
In some embodiments, the seat base may define opposing side portions, where each side portion may comprise a lock receiving portion. The tensioning mechanism may further comprise a locking mechanism comprising two laterally-opposing locking members configured to translate between an extended position and a retracted position. Each lock receiving portion may be configured to receive a respective locking member when the tensioning mechanism is in the first position and the locking members are in the extended position, thereby locking the tensioning mechanism in the first position. The locking members may also be configured to automatically translate to the extended position when the tensioning mechanism is rotated from the second position to the first position.
In some embodiments, the belt may define a lap section and a shoulder section. The seat base may be configured to receive a portion of the lap section and a portion of the shoulder section of the belt in an untensioned state to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration.
In another example embodiment, a child seat may be configured to be secured to a vehicle seat. The child seat may comprise a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat base may be configured to receive a belt of a vehicle seat in an untensioned state to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. The seat base may further define a first edge and a second edge. The seat base may be configured to receive the belt so as to define a belt path spanning the first and second edges. Additionally, each of the first and second edges may comprise an inlet channel and a retaining channel such that the belt path may extend from the retaining channel in the first edge to the retaining channel in the second edge. The inlet channels of the first and second edge may then guide the belt into the retaining channels.
Some embodiments may include a tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion of the seat base. The tensioning mechanism may be rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the seat base and a second position displaced therefrom. Placing the tensioning mechanism in the second position may allow the seat base to receive the belt, and the movement of the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position may apply tension to the belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. The tensioning mechanism may be configured to rotate, in response to receiving a substantially vertical force, from the second position to the first position to apply tension to the belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. The belt path may be defined between the tensioning mechanism and the seat base at a position proximate the center of the seat portion, so as to position the child seat in a rear-facing orientation. Alternatively, the belt path may be defined between the tensioning mechanism and the seat base at a position proximate the intersection of the backrest portion and seat portions, so as to position the child seat in a front-facing orientation.
The seat base may further define opposing side portions, each of which may comprise a lock receiving portion. The tensioning mechanism may further comprise a locking mechanism comprising two laterally-opposing locking members configured to translate between an extended position and a retracted position. Each lock receiving portion may be configured to receive a respective locking member when the tensioning mechanism is in the first position and the locking members are in the extended position, thereby locking the tensioning mechanism in the first position. In some embodiments, the locking members may be configured to automatically translate to the extended position when the tensioning mechanism is rotated from the second position to the first position.
In yet another example embodiment, a method may be defined for manufacturing a child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat in both a rear-facing orientation and a front-facing orientation. The method may comprise providing a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion. In some embodiments of the method, the seat base may be configured to receive a belt of the vehicle seat in an untensioned state to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in an untensioned configuration. The method may comprise attaching a tensioning mechanism to the seat base, and the tensioning mechanism may be rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the seat base and a second position displaced therefrom. Placing the tensioning mechanism in the second position may allow the seat base to receive the belt, and the movement of the tensioning mechanism from the second position to the first position may apply tension to the belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. The seat base of the child seat may be configured to receive the belt in both a rear-facing and front-facing orientation. The seat base may define a first edge and a second edge. The seat base may be configured to receive the belt so as to define a first belt path spanning the first and second edges. Each of the first and second edges may further comprise an inlet channel and a retaining channel, and each inlet channel may be configured to guide a portion of the belt into the respective retaining channel.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. The terms “first” and “second” are used for reference purposes only and are not limiting. The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/602,846 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A child safety seat may be configured for installation in either a front facing or rear-facing orientation with respect to the vehicle seat to accommodate children in the appropriate position based on the height and weight of a child, such as according to the guidelines and standards of the United States National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and similar authorities in other countries.
In order to protect an occupant, a child safety seat must be secured to a fixed location in a vehicle. The type of securement depends on the type of vehicle and may also depend on the standards for the particular region the vehicle is being operated in. For example, a child safety seat may be secured to a vehicle using a variety of methods, including using the seat belt of the vehicle seat or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments in the U.S.
Proper installation and use of a child safety seat within a vehicle is necessary to achieve the maximum protection afforded by the seat. As noted above, some child safety seats are designed to secure to a vehicle seat using the seat belt of the vehicle seat. Often a seat belt can be positioned around the child seat and then fastened (e.g., latched, buckled, etc.) into a buckle attached to the vehicle to achieve secure attachment of the child seat to the vehicle. However, even when the seat belt is tightly fastened, slack in the seat belt may occur. Indeed, the seat belt may not be fully tensioned and the child seat may be loosely secured to the vehicle, which may be unsafe for an occupant. In some cases, multiple attempts to fully secure a child seat to a vehicle seat using a seat belt may be required. As such, installation of a child seat using a vehicle seat belt can be difficult and time consuming.
Accordingly, some example embodiments of the present invention provide a tensioning mechanism for easy and intuitive securing of a child seat using a vehicle seat belt. The tensioning mechanism enables a user to easily apply tension to (e.g., remove slack from) a latched seat belt during installation of the child seat to the vehicle seat. This causes the child seat to become more fully secured to the vehicle seat (e.g., the child seat enters a tensioned configuration). Additionally, embodiments of the tensioning system may be utilized in child seats configured for use in either a front-facing or rear-facing orientation with respect to the vehicle seat, including child seats that are solely front-facing, solely rear-facing, or convertible between front- and rear-facing.
In some embodiments, the child seat 10 may comprise arm rests for laterally supporting the occupant. In the embodiment depicted in
In some embodiments, each arm rest 22, 23 may define a curved surface 108. Additionally, in some embodiments, each arm rest 22, 23 may define an angled surface 110 that extends from the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12 downwardly at an angle (e.g., at approximately a 45° angle down from the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12). Such features provide an aesthetic and ornamental design to the arm rest.
In some embodiments, the child seat may comprise padding, cushions, or other features to provide comfort and/or additional safety for an occupant. With reference to
In some embodiments, the child seat 10 may comprise a tensioning mechanism 30 that, as described in greater detail herein, is configured to enable a user to more easily secure the child seat to a vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. In such a manner, the child seat may be more fully secured to the vehicle seat and provide optimal protection to an occupant, such as during a vehicle impact. The tensioning mechanism 30 may be pivotably attached to the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12. In such a manner the tensioning mechanism 30 may be movable (e.g. rotatable) between a first position (shown in
With reference to
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be configured to enable a user to rotate the tensioning mechanism 30 out of the first position from within the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12. In the depicted embodiment, the tensioning mechanism 30 comprises a latch 80 that is configured to enable a user to rotate the tensioning mechanism 30 from the first position toward the second position. The latch 80 may define two pockets 82, 84 that are each configured to receive a finger of a user. The two pockets 82, 84 may be further configured to translate toward each other to enable a user to interact with the tensioning mechanism 30, such as to rotate the tensioning mechanism 30 from the first position to the second position.
In some embodiments, as will be described in greater detail herein, the latch 80 may be configured to enable a user to retract or otherwise unlock the locking members 61, 63 of a locking mechanism 60 (shown in
As noted with respect to
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be configured to rotate from a first position to a second position. With reference to
In embodiments of the child seat with a harness 50, the harness 50 may define a first harness portion 52 and a second harness portion 54 that each extend from the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12 at a first end 97 (shown in
As noted herein, some embodiments of the present invention provide a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt of a vehicle to more fully secure the child seat with the vehicle. In the depicted embodiment of
Along these lines, in some embodiments, the child seat 10, and its components (e.g., tensioning mechanism 30, arm rests 22, 23, etc.) may define a belt path for easy positioning and engagement of the vehicle seat belt with the tensioning mechanism. In some embodiments, the belt path may comprise a belt guide channel that is configured to allow a user to easily position the vehicle seat belt for proper engagement with the tensioning mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, with reference to
Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, other features may be used to define a belt path that allows for easy positioning and engagement of the vehicle seat belt with the tensioning mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, with reference to
While the depicted curved surface 108 and belt guide channels 79 provide a functional feature for guiding the portion of the vehicle seat belt into engagement with the tensioning mechanism, other curves, slopes, or adjustments may be made and are contemplated for embodiments of the present invention.
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be configured to be locked in the first position (shown in
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 60 may comprise two laterally-opposing locking members (e.g., bolts 61, 63) configured to translate between an extended position (
As shown in the depicted embodiment of
The first portion 72 may define a first portion hole 62 and a slot 83. Additionally, the first portion 72, in some embodiments, may be attached to a first locking member 61.
The second portion 74 may define a second portion hole 64 and a tab 92. The tab 92 may define a trigger member 95 and a retaining member 93. The tab 92 may be free at one end (e.g., a cantilever) such that it can bend in response to a force, such as may be applied to the trigger member 95 (e.g., a button). In such a manner, the tab 92, trigger member 95, and retaining member 93 may be configured to move between a trigger position (
The first portion 72 and second portion 74 may be configured to translate toward each other and away from each other along a longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, a portion of the first portion 72 may be configured to overlap a portion of the second portion 74 when in the retracted position. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the locking members 61, 63 may be biased toward the extended position. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the retaining member 93 may be configured to retain the locking members 61, 63 in the retracted position, such as against the bias of the spring 76. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the locking members 61, 63 of the locking mechanism 60 may be configured to automatically translate to the extended position when the tensioning mechanism 30 is rotated from the second position to the first position. Additionally, in some embodiments, the trigger member 95 may be configured to interact with the backrest portion 16 of the seat base 12 when the tensioning mechanism 30 is rotated to the first position to move the trigger member 95 from the trigger position (
For example, with reference to
As noted above, with reference to
Additionally, in some embodiments, translation of the first portion 72 and second portion 74 toward each other may cause the tab 92 and the retaining member 93 to translate to a position below the slot 83. In this way, the bias of the tab 92 may cause the tab 92 to return to the trigger position (
In some circumstances, even despite the bias of the tab 92 and retaining member 93 to retain the locking members 61, 63 in the retracted position, the locking members 61, 63 may be released (accidentally or otherwise) while the tensioning mechanism 30 is out of the first position. In such a situation, with the locking members 61, 63 in the extended position, it may be difficult to rotate the tensioning mechanism 30 into the first position due to the interference of the extended locking members 61, 63 with the respective lock receiving portions 55, 57 of the seat base 12. As such, in some embodiments, with reference to
As noted above, some example embodiments of the present invention provide a tensioning mechanism for a child seat that is configured to enable easy and full securing of the child seat to a vehicle seat with a vehicle seat belt (e.g., the child seat is easily secured in a tensioned configuration by the user).
As used herein, in some embodiments, the vehicle seat belt may be also referred to as a belt or seat belt. Additionally, in some embodiments, reference to a vehicle seat belt, seat belt, or belt may include both a lap section and a shoulder section of the belt of the vehicle seat or either of the two individually. Moreover, while the depicted embodiments detail the use of both a lap section and a shoulder section of the belt of a vehicle seat, other embodiments may only use a lap section or a shoulder section for securement of the child seat. Along these same lines, while the depicted embodiments are described with respect to a car seat, other vehicles or surfaces using belts for securement are contemplated. Indeed, the present invention is not meant to be limited to cars.
In such a regard, in some embodiments, the seat base of the child seat may be configured to receive an untensioned belt of a vehicle seat to secure the child seat in an untensioned configuration. For example, with reference to
As noted above, in some embodiments, the belt 25 may define a lap section 27 and a shoulder section 29. The lap section 27 may define a portion of the belt 25 that extends from a lower anchor on a vehicle (not shown) to a buckle 221 (shown in
In some embodiments, in the second position, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be configured to receive a portion of the belt 25. Additionally, in the depicted embodiment of
A further example of the child seat 10 not being fully secured to the vehicle seat 28 is illustrated in
In some embodiments, once the belt 25 is engaged with the tensioning mechanism 30, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be rotated into the first position to apply tension to a portion of the belt 25 to secure the child seat to the vehicle seat in a tensioned configuration. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be configured to rotate, in response to receiving a substantially vertical force, from the second position to the first position to apply tension to the portion of the belt 25. In such an embodiment, a user may simply push substantially straight down to effectuate fully secure installation of the child seat to a vehicle seat (e.g., the user may push down to install the child seat in a tensioned configuration). For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, with reference to
In some embodiments, the tension applied to the portion of the belt 25 may be the result of displacement of the portion of the belt 25 that is engaged with the tensioning mechanism 30. Such displacement may cause an increased tension in the belt 25, which may cause the child seat 10 to more fully secure to the vehicle seat 28 (e.g., the tensioned configuration shown in
In some embodiments, with reference to
In some embodiments, the angled surface 110 may be configured to adjacently engage and align the portion of the belt 25 when the child seat 10 is in the tensioned configuration. For example, in the depicted embodiment of
While the depicted angled surface 110 provides a functional feature of alignment of the belt of the vehicle seat, other angles or adjustments may be made and are contemplated for embodiments of the present invention.
Some embodiments of the child seat 10 provide a seat base 12 that includes an open belt path. An open belt path is one in which the seat belt 25 may be engaged with the child seat 10 without having to be threaded through or overlap with any components of the child seat 10. One example of an open belt path is one in which the seat base 12 is capable of receiving an edge of the belt 25 when the tensioning mechanism 30 is in the second position, so as to allow the belt 25 to be received by the tensioning mechanism 30 even while the belt 25 is buckled to the vehicle seat 28 or while a user is holding the buckle engaging portion of the belt 25. In this example, the open belt path is defined by the belt 25 being able to engage the child seat without the need to thread the belt through an orifice or hole formed in the seat base 12.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the open belt path is created by the displacement of the tensioning mechanism 30. The tensioning mechanism 30 may move to the second position, out of the way of the belt path so that the seat belt 25 may be laid across the child seat 10 in an untensioned configuration. After the seat belt 25 is across the child seat and engaged with the buckle 21 on the vehicle seat 28, the tensioning mechanism 30 may be returned to the first position to tension the seat belt 25.
In other embodiments, shown in
With reference to
The seat base 305 may be configured to receive a seat belt 317 in an untensioned state. Because embodiments of the child seat 300 have a tensioning mechanism 330, there is no need for the belt 317 to be tensioned directly by a user grasping the belt 317. Rather the user may apply tension to the belt 317 by rotating the tensioning mechanism 330 between a second position (shown in
In addition to receiving the belt 317 in an untensioned state, and as described above, the displacement of the tensioning mechanism 330 away from the belt paths 335, 340 allows the seat base 305 to have open belt paths 335, 340. Open belt paths 335, 340, as discussed above, allow the belt 317 to be engaged with the seat base 305 without interference by the various portions of the child seat 300. In some embodiments, an open belt path 335, 340 may be defined by the seat base 305 being configured to receive an edge of the belt 317 when the tensioning mechanism 330 is in the second position while the belt 317 is in a buckled position with the vehicle seat 302.
In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 330 may be configured to rotate, in response to receiving a substantially vertical force, from the second position to the first position to apply tension to the portion of the belt 317. In such an embodiment, a user may simply push substantially straight down to effectuate fully secure installation of the child seat 300 to a vehicle seat 302 (e.g., the user may push down to install the child seat 300 in a tensioned configuration). For example, with reference to
The present invention envisions numerous configurations of belt paths 335, 340 and various mechanisms and structures for holding the belt 317 within the belt paths 335, 340. For example the belt paths 335, 340 may be designed and configured to place the belt 317 in a position to exert a securing force on the child seat 300 for each respective orientation and hold the child seat 300 securely on the vehicle seat 302. With reference to
With reference to
An inlet channel 345, 350 may be provided to allow the respective retaining channels 355, 360 to be accessed. In some embodiments, the inlet channels 345, 350 may be configured to guide a portion of the belt 317 into a respective retaining channel 355, 360. Each inlet channel 345, 350 may, for example, connect the surface of the edges 320, 325 to the retaining channel 355, 360. With respect to
Embodiments of the present invention contemplate various configurations of belt paths and channels and should not be construed to limit the child seat 300 to two belt paths 335, 340 and two orientations. For example, the seat base 305 may comprise a single belt path with a single set of retaining channels configured to accommodate both orientations of the child seat 300. Alternatively the seat base 305 may comprise multiple belt paths disposed on different sides of one large retaining channel with a single inlet channel for both belt paths. Further, there may be multiple belt paths and/or channels for each possible orientation to allow for fine tuning of the position of the child seat 300.
In an exemplary embodiment, the belt paths 335, 340 and child seat 300 may be configured so that the force for moving the tensioning mechanism 330 from the second position to the first position while the belt 317 is in the first belt path 340 corresponding to the rear-facing orientation is substantially similar to a force for moving the tensioning mechanism 330 from the second position to the first position while the belt 317 is in the second belt path 335 corresponding to the front-facing orientation. For example, the force needed to secure the tensioning mechanism 330 in the first position may be determined as a function of the final tension in the belt 317 and the length of a lever arm created by moving the end of the tensioning mechanism 330 about a pivot point (e.g. the hinges 365). Configuring the tensioning mechanism 330 to receive the same force to be secured in the first position in both the front- and rear-facing orientations would ensure similar operability in each of the two orientations because each would require a similar force input to engage the tensioning mechanism 300 with the portion of the belt 317. The belt paths 335, 340 and child seat 300 may be further configured so that the resulting tension applied to the belt 317 by the tensioning mechanism 330 when the belt 317 is in the first belt path 340 is substantially similar to the resulting tension applied to the belt 317 by the tensioning mechanism 330 when the belt 317 is in the second belt path 335. For example, in some cases, the tensioning mechanism 330 may be configured to apply a tension of approximately 20 to approximately 60 pounds. Having similar tensions in both orientations may help to ensure that the child seat 300 is securely attached to the vehicle seat 302 in either orientation. Moreover, the user may be better able to know when the child seat 300 is secured if both the force of pushing the tensioning mechanism 300 to the first position and the resulting tension in the belt 317 are the same in both the front- and rear-facing orientations.
As described above, with reference to
Additionally, with reference to
As discussed above and in some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 330 may comprise an engaging surface that is adjacent to a surface of the seat base 305 when the tension mechanism 330 is in the first position, and wherein a portion of the first belt path 340 corresponding to the first 320 and second 325 edges is positioned higher than a portion of the first belt path 340 corresponding to the engaging surface of the tensioning mechanism 330 such that a portion of the belt 317 engaged by the engaging surface is deflected substantially towards the seat base 305 with respect to portions of the belt 317 engaged by the first 320 and second 325 edges when the tensioning mechanism 330 is in the first position. The possible positions and angles a discussed above are not meant to limit the invention but rather are exemplary of how the location of the belt paths 335, 340 may be varied to apply a desired tension to the belt 317 and adjust the force required by the user to achieve the desired tension.
Some example embodiments of the present invention contemplate a method of manufacturing a child seat comprising any components or any embodiments described herein. For example, in some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a child seat configured to be secured to a vehicle seat may comprise providing a seat base as described herein and attaching a tensioning mechanism as described herein to the seat base. The seat base and tensioning mechanism may be configured at least as described herein with respect to any embodiments or combination of embodiments.
Some embodiments of a method for manufacturing a child seat 300 configured to be secured to a vehicle seat 302 in both a rear-facing orientation and a front-facing orientation may include providing a seat base 305 defining a seat portion 310 and a backrest portion 315. The seat base 305 may be configured to receive a belt 317 of the vehicle seat 302 in an untensioned state to secure the child seat 300 to the vehicle seat 302 in an untensioned configuration. Some embodiments of the method may include attaching a tensioning mechanism 330 to the seat base. The tensioning mechanism 330 may be rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the seat base 305 and a second position displaced therefrom, wherein placing the tensioning mechanism 330 in the second position may allow the seat base 305 to receive the belt 317, and the movement of the tensioning mechanism 330 from the second position to the first position may apply tension to the belt 317 to secure the child seat 300 to the vehicle seat 302 in a tensioned configuration. In some embodiments of the present invention, the seat base 305 of the child seat 300 may be configured to receive the belt 317 in both a rear-facing and front-facing orientation. The method for manufacturing a child seat may also include a seat base 305 defining a first edge 320 and a second edge 325, wherein the seat base 305 is configured to receive the belt 317 so as to define a first belt path 340 spanning the first 320 and second 325 edges. In some embodiments, the first 320 and second 325 edges may include an inlet channel 345, 350 and a retaining channel 355, 360, wherein each inlet channel 345, 350 may be configured to guide a portion of the belt 317 into the respective retaining channel 355, 360.
Along these same lines, some example embodiments of the present invention contemplate any combination of embodiments or components described herein. Although some features of the respective embodiments are not shown in all of the figures for purposes of explanation and to allow clearer viewing of the components of the child seat 300, such features may nonetheless be incorporated into any embodiment. For example, the embodiments of the child seat 300 shown in
In some embodiments of the child seat 300 shown in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/294,242 filed Oct. 14, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/063,807 filed Oct. 25, 2013 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,499,074 which issued on Nov. 22, 2016), and the entire contents of all of the above are hereby incorporated by reference.
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| Entry |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170158094 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15294242 | Oct 2016 | US |
| Child | 15433156 | US | |
| Parent | 14063807 | Oct 2013 | US |
| Child | 15294242 | US |
