AU2006203692B2 - Adjustable recline device for child safety seat - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable recline device for a child safety seat is disclosed. The adjustable recline device includes a support member to abut the vehicle seat with the support member pivotably mounted to the safety seat about a pivot axis to allow variation of the angle of recline of the safety seat with respect to the vehicle seat. Pivot axis varying means are also incorporated to vary the location of the pivot axis of the support member with respect to the safety seat. Engagement means located on the support member removably engage with a plurality of corresponding engagement portions located on the safety seat, wherein the engagement portions are positioned on the safety seat to allow the angle of recline of the safety seat to be varied to a plurality of predetermined orientations. Figure 1

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd Actual Inventor: Wieslaw Maciejczyk Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: ADJUSTABLE RECLINE DEVICE FOR CHILD SAFETY SEAT Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2005904649 dated 26 August 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a child safety seat for a vehicle. In a particular form, the present invention relates to a child safety seat whose angle of recline is adjustable. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Child safety seats for vehicles are now commonly mandated as a requirement where infants are to be transported in a vehicle. This is due to the increased protection they provide to a child in the event of a car collision. There are 10 many different types of safety seat designs, ranging from those which are designed specifically for infants and hence are configured to adopt a generally prone rearward facing orientation to those which stand generally upright and face in the direction of travel of the vehicle and are more suitable for older children. Additionally, there are safety seats which may be changed into 15 either of these configurations thereby saving on the cost and inconvenience of having to replace the safety seat as a child grows. It is often a requirement to adjust the angle of recline of a child safety seat with respect to the supporting vehicle seat for both safety and comfort 20 reasons. Taking the example of a forward facing seat, if the angle of recline of the seat is such that the child secured in the seat harness may be able to slip under the harness in an accident, it will be necessary to tilt the safety seat in a forward direction so that the child is in a more upright position. Often the base of the vehicle seat will be on an incline itself and this can be 25 compensated for by adjusting the angle of recline of the safety seat. Alternatively, the child sitting in the seat may wish to have the seat in an increased reclining position so that they may rest more comfortably. There have been a number of attempts to provide an adjustable recline 30 capability to a child safety seat. In one example, described in United States Patent No. 4,613,188, the child safety seat incorporates a reclining mechanism 2 including a supporting member for supporting the safety seat on the vehicle seat, the supporting member being provided with a pair of distal end portions, each of which is rotatably supported on a crank means, and a rear portion serving to abut the seat in a supporting relationship, the two crank 5 means including a pair of crank levers connected to each other by a rod and rotatably supported by pins provided on either side of the safety seat, whereby the safety seat can be reclined readily. However, this crank arrangement involves numerous moving parts and cannot be readily integrated into the seat design. Furthermore, the supporting member does not 10 lock or positively engage with the vehicle seat, meaning that in the event of an accident it may be dislodged from its supporting position potentially causing further injury to an occupant of the safety seat. Another example of an adjustable recline mechanism is described in 15 Australian Patent Application No. 56006/96 which includes the use of foldable legs which when folded out from a base region of the safety seat support the seat at a differing angle of recline. However, this device is difficult to adjust and furthermore does not provide a stable supporting surface for the safety seat. 20 It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable recline device for a safety seat that is capable of allowing the safety seat to be adjusted to a number of predetermined angles of recline. 25 It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable recline device that is capable of being conveniently integrated into the safety seat with a minimum number of moving parts. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable 30 recline device that is capable of functioning as an anti-rebound bar for those 3 safety seats configured to adopt a generally prone rearward facing orientation. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and 5 example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention accordingly provides an adjustable recline device for a child safety seat, the safety seat for use on a vehicle seat and including a seat portion and a back rest 0 portion for seating an infant, the adjustable recline device including: a support member to abut the vehicle seat; the support member pivotably mounted to the safety seat about a pivot axis to allow variation of the angle of recline of the safety seat with respect to the vehicle seat; pivot axis varying means to vary the location of the pivot axis of the support member with respect 5 to the safety seat; and engagement means located on the support member so as to be spaced apart from the pivot axis and to removably engage with a plurality of corresponding engagement portions located on the safety seat, wherein the engagement portions are positioned on the safety seat to vary the angle of recline of the safety seat to a plurality of predetermined orientations. 10 By allowing the pivot axis of the support member to vary, this introduces a further degree of freedom of movement for the support member. This results in the support member being able to be easily manipulated to engage with the safety seat at a number of engagement portions to vary the angle of recline of the seat. 15 In one form, the pivot axis varying means includes sliding means to vary the location of the pivot axis. In one form, the support member is pivotably mounted to the safety seat by a bolt and hinge 30 arrangement. In one form, the sliding means includes an elongate slot located on the support member to slide along a shank of the bolt to vary the extension of the support member with respect to the support seat. 35 This provides the sliding means in an easy to manufacture arrangement which minimises the parts required. Furthermore, it allows for the integration of the support member with the safety seat. 4 In one form, the engagement means includes a plug or dowel portion located on the support member. In one form, the engagement portions include detents, the detents adapted to engage with the plug 5 or dowel portion located on the support member. In one form, the detents include a snap-fit region to snap-fit to the plug or dowel portion. This provides a convenient and cost effective way to provide engagement means which can be 0 easily used by a person who desires to readjust the angle of recline of the safety seat. In one form, the safety seat includes a recess or aperture to receive a portion of the support member. 5 In this manner, the support member may be further integrated into the styling of the safety seat. In one form, the support member is of a generally U-shaped configuration having a pair of arms each pivotably attached on opposed sides to a base portion of the safety seat. !0 Optionally, the support member is a plate member adapted to abut against the vehicle seat. In one form, the support member is configurable as an anti-rebound bar for the safety seat configurable in the generally prone rearward facing direction. !5 Providing this dual use capability further adds to the cost effectiveness of the support member when compared to other mechanisms which only function to vary the angle of recline of the safety seat. In one form, the support member is lockable in place when configured as an anti-rebound bar. 30 In a second aspect the present invention provides a child safety seat incorporating the adjustable recline device according to a first aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the 35 accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a top side rear perspective view of an adjustable recline device for a child safety seat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 5 Figure 2 is a detailed side view of the adjustable recline device illustrated in Figure I as adjusted to the reclined position; Figure 3 is an underside perspective view of the adjustable recline device illustrated in Figure 1 5 disengaged from the safety seat ready to be adjusted; Figure 4 is a side bottom perspective view of the adjustable recline device detached from the safety seat; 0 Figure 5 is a detailed side view of the adjustable recline device illustrated in Figure I as adjusted to the upright position; 6 FIGURE 6 is a front perspective view of the adjustable recline device illustrated in Figure 1 functioning as an anti-rebound bar. In the following description, like reference characters designate like or 5 corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown an adjustable recline device for a safety seat 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 10 Safety seat 100 is formed from moulded plastic and generally includes a back rest portion 140, a pair of side portions 110 which function to prevent sideways movement of a child in the event of a collision and a seat portion 120. In this embodiment, safety seat 100 may be configured to adopt a generally upright forward facing position for the seating of a toddler or 15 alternatively be configured in the generally prone rearward facing position that is more suitable for an infant (see Figure 6). The adjustable recline device includes a support member 130 including a pair of arm members 134 joined by an end member 135 forming a generally U 20 shaped configuration. When the seat 100 is in the upright configuration, support member 130 is placed on the vehicle seat surface (not shown) to support the safety seat 100. A pair of seat back rest abutment portions 142 which form part of the rear section 140 of safety seat 100 abuts against the back rest of the vehicle seat with the safety seat 100 secured to the vehicle seat 25 by virtue of the vehicle's seat belt. Each arm member 134 is pivotably attached at its end to respective attachment points located on base portion 145 of safety seat 100 by a bolt or pin 133 located on base portion 145 of seat 100 and slot or aperture 132 located 30 on each arm member 134 thereby forming a pivot axis about which the angle of recline of the safety seat 100 can be varied with respect to the vehicle seat. 7 This forms a slidable hinge arrangement that allows the arm members 134 to pivot about each bolt 133 at varying extensions with respect to safety seat 100 depending on the location of bolt 133 with respect to the slot 132 on each arm member 134 in the process functioning as a pivot axis varying means to vary 5 the location of the pivot axis of the support member 130 with respect to the safety seat 100. This is due to the ability of each slot 132 to slide along the shank of respective bolt 133. Whilst in this embodiment, slot 132 is elongate and linear, the slot may also be 10 curved depending on the requirements. Accordingly, the interaction of slot 132 and bolt 133 forms sliding means allowing the location of the pivot axis along each arm member 134 of support member 130 to be varied thereby providing another degree of freedom of movement for the support member 130. Each arm member 134 is also received into a respective recess 148 in base 15 portion 145 (as best seen in Figures 3 and 4) that functions to reduce sideways movement of the support member 130. Although in this preferred embodiment the slot 132 is located on each of the arm members 134 of support member 130, equally the arms 134 could 20 incorporate a fixed pin arrangement which interacts with a slot or groove located on the body of the vehicle seat 100, once again in effect allowing the location of the pivot axis of the support member 130 to vary with respect to the safety seat 100. 25 Support member 130 is located in position and engaged to safety seat 100 by a pair of dowel or plug portions 131 located on each arm member 134 which removably engage with respective detents 146, 147 formed in the base portion 145 of safety seat 100. Detents 146, 147 are located to vary the angle of recline of safety seat 100 with respect to support member 130 and are sized so that 30 the plug or dowel portions 131 located on each arm member 124 snap fit into the respective detents 146, 147. First detent 147 corresponds to a generally

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reclined position (see Figure 2) whilst second detent 146 corresponds to a more upright orientation (see Figure 5). To adjust the angle of recline of safety seat 100 from the reclined position (see 5 Figure 2) to the more upright position (see Figure 5) or vice versa, support member 130 is detached or disengaged from base portion 145 by moving support member 130 away from the safety seat 100. This causes the plug or dowel portions 131 located on each arm member 134 to release from respective detents 147 and to be pivoted about a pivot axis defined by the 10 location of bolt 133 with respect to elongate slot 132. In this manner the extension of arm members 134 of support member 130 with respect to the location of bolt 133 can be varied. In this example, the support member 130 is moved closer to base portion 145 to engage dowel or plug portions 131 with detents 146 which corresponds to the more upright position. Comparing 15 Figures 2 and 5, the overall change in orientation of safety seat 100 with respect to support member 130 can be readily seen. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the number of detents need not be limited to two and may be increased to include a variety of angles of 20 adjustable recline as desired. Whilst in this embodiment the adjustable recline device abuts the base of the vehicle seat, the present invention could equally be adapted to be attached to the rear or back portion of the safety seat to adjust the angle of recline by providing an abutting surface to the back rest of the vehicle seat. 25 Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a safety seat 100 configured to the generally prone position suitable for an infant. In this configuration, support surface 141 which is formed as part of the moulding of seat 100 is placed on the vehicle seat. In this embodiment, support member 130 is pivoted about 30 bolt arrangement 133 to the front of seat 100 to form an anti-rebound bar 160. This prevents safety seat 100 from rebounding in the event of a collision by 9 providing a supporting surface 161 which abuts against the back of the vehicle seat and prevents rotation of the safety seat 100 in an anti-clockwise direction (as shown). 5 Support member 130 in this configuration is locked into place by dowel or plug portions 131 snap-fitting into downwardly oriented receiving apertures 125 located on the front of the seat 100. Because of the elongate slots 132 located on arm members 134, the support member 130 can be rotated into position and forced in a downwards direction to engage with receiving 10 apertures 125. Similarly, support member 130 in its present form as an anti rebound bar 160 can be lifted to disengage dowel or plug portions 132 from receiving apertures 125 and repositioned as required. Whilst in this preferred embodiment the support member is configured as a 15 pair of opposed arms, equally the support member could be disposed of as a plate member having a substantially planar surface that rests or abuts against either the base or the back rest of the vehicle seat. A brief consideration of the above described embodiment will indicate that 20 the invention provides an extremely simple and easy to use adjustable recline device which is effective to provide means for adjusting a safety seat to a number of predetermined angles of recline. Additionally, the support member may be readily integrated into the design of the safety seat and adapted to perform a secondary function as an anti-rebound bar. 25 Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing 30 from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims. 10

Claims (13)

1. An adjustable recline device for a child safety seat, the safety seat for use on a vehicle seat and including a seat portion and a back rest portion for seating an infant, the adjustable recline device 5 including: a support member to abut the vehicle seat; the support member pivotably mounted to the safety seat about a pivot axis to allow variation of the angle of recline of the safety seat with respect to the vehicle seat; pivot axis varying means to vary the location of the pivot axis of the support member with respect 0 to the safety seat; and engagement means located on the support member so as to be spaced apart from the pivot axis and removably engage with a plurality of corresponding engagement portions located on the safety seat, wherein the engagement portions are positioned on the safety seat to vary the angle of recline of the safety seat to a plurality of predetermined orientations. 5

2. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis varying means includes sliding means to vary the location of the pivot axis.

3. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support !0 member is pivotably mounted to the safety seat by a bolt and hinge arrangement.

4. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the sliding means includes an elongate slot located on the support member to slide along a shank of the bolt to vary the extension of the support member with respect to the support seat. !5

5. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the engagement means includes a plug or dowel portion located on the support member.

6. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the 30 engagement portions include detents, the detents adapted to engage with the plug or dowel portion located on the support member.

7. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detents include a snap-fit region to snap-fit to the plug or dowel portion. 35

8. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety seat includes a recess or aperture to receive a portion of the support member. II

9. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member is of a generally U-shaped configuration having a pair of arms each pivotably attached on opposed sides to a base portion of the safety seat. 5 10. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in any one of claims I to 8, wherein the support member is a plate member adapted to abut against the vehicle seat. 1. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member is configurable as an anti-rebound bar for the safety seat 0 configurable in the generally prone rearward facing direction.

12. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support member is lockable in place when configured as an anti-rebound bar. 5 13. The adjustable recline device for a child safety seat as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support member is lockable in place as an anti-rebound bar by way of engagement means located on the support member removably engaging with corresponding engagement portions located on the safety seat.

14. A child safety seat incorporating the adjustable recline device of any one of the preceding claims. !0

15. An adjustable recline device substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A child safety seat substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments !5 of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 12