AU2013202980B2 - Child safety seat with improved reclining mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a child safety seat assembly comprising a seat, a base for the seat, a first reclining mechanism operative to allow a first range of reclining movement of the seat between an upright position and a first reclined position relative to the base, and a second, distinct reclining mechanism operative to allow a second range of reclining movement of the seat between the first reclined position and a further reclined position relative to the base. ( ~ 48 12a iO 5

Description

CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH IMPROVED RECLINING MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a reclining mechanism for a child safety seat, and also to a latch mechanism that enables control of reclining to various positions. 5 PRIORITY This patent application claims priority from: - Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2012901885, titled "CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH IMPROVED RECLINING MECHANISM", and filed on 9 May 2012. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference. 0 BACKGROUND Child safety seats for motor vehicles normally comprise two styles of seats. The first is used for infants from birth to the age of six months. These seats are normally referred to as "rearward facing seats". The seats are positioned in a motor vehicle with the infant facing in a rearward direction so that the infant's back faces the direction of travel of the vehicle. In a front end collision, the force of the 5 impact will be absorbed by the backrest of the safety seat. From the ages of six months to four and a half years, the style of seat recommended is forward facing with the child being seated in an upright position. Such safety seats have their own harnesses and safety belts for the child. The seat in turn is secured to the motor vehicle seat by way of the existing lap sash seat belt or other attachment arrangements. 20 Obviously, it is desirable to have a safety seat which can be used in both the rearward and forward facing mode. In order to achieve this, the safety seat must be designed so that it can be used in an upright forward facing mode, and also in a reclined rearward facing mode. Obviously, there needs to be some adjustment between the safety seat and its base support, which rests on the motor vehicle seat, to enable the various positions to be achieved. 25 In addition, it is desirable to be able to recline an upright forward facing seat for the comfort of a sleeping child. There are limits to the extent of which a forward facing seat can be reclined. If it is reclined too excessively, then there is potential for "tunnelling" which is forward movement of the child's body with respect to the harness under impact conditions causing high loading on the lower body. Apart from the potential for the child to come out of the harness, there is the risk of serious injury if the waist harness presses against the middle or upper abdomen. Accordingly, it is essential that the reclining of a forward facing safety seat be limited. A discussion of a child safety seat having a reclining mechanism with a forward positioned actuator 5 therefor can be found in the Applicant's Australian Patent No. 702416, the contents of which should be considered incorporated herein by way of reference. It is against this background that the present invention has been developed. 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 0 example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a seat, a base for the seat, a first reclining mechanism operative to allow a first range of reclining movement of the seat between an upright position and a first reclined position relative to the base, and a second, 5 distinct reclining mechanism operative to allow a second range of reclining movement of the seat between the first reclined position and a further reclined position relative to the base, wherein the second reclining mechanism is operable by way of an actuator located on a rearward position of the base. In the context of this specification the term 'distinct' is to be taken to mean 'physically separate'. 20 The upright position and first reclined position are for use with the child safety seat in its forward facing mode. The first reclined position is the maximum amount of recline that would be allowable with the seat in its forward facing mode. The further reclined position is the position that the safety seat needs to adopt in order for it to be used as a rearward facing safety seat and is obviously a greater degree of recline. 25 In one form, the first reclining mechanism is operable from a front of the child safety seat assembly. In one form, the first reclining mechanism is operable by way of an actuator located on a forward position of the seat. In one form, the second reclining mechanism is operable from a rear of the child safety seat assembly.

In one form, the second reclining mechanism is operable by way of an actuator located on a rearward position of the base. In one form, the actuator located on the rearward position of the base is operable to prevent the reclining of the seat from the first reclined position to the further reclined position. 5 In one form, each reclining mechanism comprises means for guiding the seat through its range of movement, and latching means to both hold the seat in predetermined positions, and release the seat for movement within its range of reclining movement. The latching mechanisms may comprise a number of arrangements including lever operated latches, or 5 detent or recess stops in a guide slot. In one form, each guide means comprises a guide track and carriage means operative to follow the guide track. In one form, the guide track is a slot and the carriage means comprises a guide bar or pin. In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a 0 seat, a base for the seat, a first recline actuator operative to effect a first range of reclining movement of the seat between an upright position and a first reclined position relative to the base, and a second, distinct recline actuator operative to effect a second range of reclining movement of the seat between the first reclined position and a further reclined position relative to the base. In one form, the first recline actuator is operable from a front of the child safety seat. 5 In one form, the first recline actuator is a handle located on a forward position of the seat. In one form, the second recline actuator is operable from a rear of the child safety seat. In one form, the second recline actuator is a handle located on a rearward position of the base. A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the 20 invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. 25 The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this disclosure it will now be described with respect to an exemplary embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein: Figures 1 is a side view of a child safety seat assembly in a forward facing mode and upright position; 5 Figure 2 is a side view of the child safety seat assembly in the forward facing mode and a first reclined position; Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating operation of a handle for a first reclining mechanism of the child safety seat assembly; Figure 4a is a side view of the child safety seat assembly in a rearward facing mode and a further 0 reclined position; Figure 4b is a detail view of the child safety seat assembly illustrating a handle for a second reclining mechanism; Figure 5a is a part cross-sectional side view of the child safety seat assembly in the upright position; Figure 5b is a part cross-sectional side view of the child safety seat assembly in the first reclined 5 position; Figure 5c is a part cross-sectional side view of the child safety assembly illustrating the second reclining mechanism in operation to enable the safety seat to move from the first recline position to a further recline position; Figure 5d is a part cross-sectional side view of the child safety assembly in the second reclined 20 position; Figure 6a is rear view of the child safety seat assembly illustrating the handle for the second reclining mechanism; and Figure 6b is a detail view of the child safety seat assembly illustrating the handle for the second reclining mechanism. 25 In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 4a , where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 1 comprising a seat 12, a base 10 for the seat 12, a first reclining mechanism operative to allow a first range of reclining movement of the seat 12 between an upright position and a first reclined position 5 relative to the base 10, and a second, distinct reclining mechanism operative to allow a second range of reclining movement of the seat 12 between the first reclined position and a further reclined position relative to the base 10. The upright position (see Figure 1) and first reclined position (see Figure 2) are for use with the child safety seat 1 in its forward facing (i.e. forward facing in the vehicle) mode. The first reclined position 0 is the maximum amount of recline of the seat 12 relative to the base 10 that would be allowable with the child safety seat 1 in its forward facing mode. The further reclined position (as illustrated in Figure 4a) provides the amount of recline of the seat 12 relative to the base 10 that the child safety seat 1 needs to adopt in order for it to be used as a rearward facing safety seat and is obviously a greater degree of recline. 5 The seat 12 is a moulded polymeric component comprising a backrest portion 12a and a seat portion 12b. Each reclining mechanism comprises means for guiding the seat 12, which work cooperatively to guide the seat 12 through its range of movement relative to the base 10. Referring now to Figures 5a through 5d, the first reclining means comprises a first guide bar 20 0 depending from the underside of the seat portion 12b of the seat 12, the ends of which locate in a first pair of inwardly and oppositely directed slots (not shown) defined in the base 10. The second reclining means comprises a second guide bar 30 depending from a lower rear of the backrest portion 12a of the seat 12, where this second guide bar 30 extends through a slot 32 defined in a central seat mount 34 extending from a rear end of the base 10. 25 Each reclining mechanism further comprises latching means to both hold the seat 12 in predetermined positions, and release the seat 12 for movement within its range of reclining movement. The first latching means 40 comprises a first latch body 42 depending from the underside of the seat portion 12b of the seat 12, which acts as a lever arm extending forward from pivotal attachment points P on the seat to a forward-most handle portion 44.

By pulling the handle portion 44 upward (as illustrated in Figure 3) the latch body 42 is rotated so that a pair of latching projections 46 depending from the underside of the latch body 42 are withdrawn from upwardly facing locking apertures 48 located in a pair of racks 49 secured to or moulded into the base 10. 5 These racks 49 comprise an array of locking apertures 48, the forward most and rearward most of which correspond with the first reclined and upright positions of the seat 12 respectively. Intermediate locking apertures 48 provide additional positional adjustment. Springs 35 extend between the latch body 42 and the first guide bar 22. These springs 35 exert a force on the latch body 42 to ensure that the latching projections 46 are returned to their latching position 0 once the handle 44 is released. The second latching means 50 comprises a second latch body 52 which is slidably located in a recess in the rear of the central seat mount 34 of the base 10, and which comprises (i.e. the second latch body) a shoulder providing a first stop catch 54 provided to prevent the seat 11 from being reclined past the first recline position shown in Figure 2, and a rearmost handle portion 56 (as illustrated in 4b, 5 6a and 6b). As seen in Figure 5b, when the seat 12 reaches the first reclined position, the guide bar 22 abuts against the first stop catch 54, and this thereby prevents any further reclining of the seat 11. In order to recline the seat 12 to the further reclined position (in which the safety seat 1 can be used in a rearward facing mode) the second latch body 52 is pulled outwardly (see Figure 5c) against the bias of a spring via the handle portion 56 so as to move the stop catch 54 and release the second guide bar 0 30 so that the seat 12 can move to said further reclined position. The second latch body 52 further comprises a notch providing a second stop catch 58 via which the second guide bar 30 is captured following release and forward return movement under the influence of the spring, to retain the seat 12 in the second reclined position until it is to be released by operation of the handle 54 of the second latch body 52. 25 As can be seen from the above description, the child safety seat 1 provides a convenient means of effecting seat 12 recline, whilst preventing over reclining when used in the forward facing mode, by way of physical separation of the actuators or handles 44 and 56 respectively. More particularly, the handle 56 for further recline is not readily accessible when the child safety seat 1 is secured in a forward facing position in the vehicle. When handle 56 is accessible however, the invention provides a 30 simple means of further reclining the seat 12 to a position where the child safety seat 1 can be used in a rearward facing position.

It will be further appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 5 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. All publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion 0 of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Claims (8)

1. A child safety seat assembly comprising a seat, a base for the seat, a first reclining mechanism operative to allow a first range of reclining movement of the seat between an upright position and a first reclined position relative to the base, and a second, distinct reclining mechanism operative to allow a second range of reclining movement of the seat between the first reclined position and a further reclined position relative to the base, wherein the second reclining mechanism is operable by way of an actuator located on a rearward position of the base.

2. The child safety seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first reclining mechanism is operable from at or near a front of the child safety seat assembly.

3. The child safety seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the first reclining mechanism is operable by way of an actuator located on a forward position of the seat.

4. The child safety seat assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator located on the rearward position of the base is operable to prevent the reclining of the seat from the first reclined position to the further reclined position.

5. The child safety seat assembly as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each reclining mechanism comprises means for guiding the seat through its range of movement, and latching means to both hold the seat in predetermined positions, and release the seat for movement within its range of reclining movement.

6. The child safety seat assembly as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first range of reclining movement is for use with the child safety seat assembly in a forward facing mode.

7. The child safety seat assembly as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second range of reclining movement of the seat is for use with the child safety seat assembly in a rearward facing mode.

8. A child safety seat assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrations. 8