AU2013248252B2

AU2013248252B2 - Restraint cushioning improvements

Info

Publication number: AU2013248252B2
Application number: AU2013248252A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wieslaw Maciejczyk
Original assignee: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-25
Filing date: 2013-10-25
Publication date: 2017-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-25
Also published as: CN103879315B; CN103879315A; AU2013248252A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a child restraint comprising a body for receiving an occupant, the body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the occupant, and an aperture extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and a cushioning element extending though the aperture and comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed body surface. An associated headrest and cushioning element for a child restraint are also disclosed. *1 (6 -8 8-\ 20 22- 21-\ Figure 1

Description

1

RESTRAINT CUSHIONING IMPROVEMENTS PRIORITY DOCUMENT 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 [0001] The present application claims priority from:

Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2012904657 titled “RESTRAINT CUSHIONING IMPROVEMENTS” and fded on 25 October 2012. The content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a child restraint for use in an automobile or the like. In a particular form the present invention relates to improvements to cushioning of the restraint for its occupant.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Young children are particularly fragile and therefore vulnerable in the event of motor vehicle accidents, the majority of which involve at least some side component where a child’s head and body can be caused to impact against an inside of their seat, and/or a portion of the vehicle body is pushed inwardly and impacts against the seat exterior, and/or the seat may be thrown against a side of the vehicle interior, and/or unrestrained vehicle contents and other miscellaneous debris created in the accident are flung about inside of the vehicle.

[0004] It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.

[0005] Certain 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 example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a child restraint comprising a body (for receiving an occupant) comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the occupant, and an aperture extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and a cushioning element extending through the aperture and comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed body surface, where the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture. 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 [0007] In use, the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element will absorb energy associated with an impact between the child restraint body occupant and the inwardly directed body surface. The outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element will absorb energy associated with an impact between any one of a portion of the vehicle, another vehicle occupant, or any unrestrained vehicle contents and the outwardly directed body surface.

[0008] In one form, the body comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and the cushioning element provides for each aperture a portion providing exterior cushioning extending there through.

[0009] In one form, the body comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and a cushioning element for each aperture.

[0010] In one form, the body comprises a base (or seat) portion (for receiving a posterior of the occupant) and a backrest portion.

[0011] In one form, the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the backrest portion, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the backrest portion and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

[0012] In one form, the body comprises a side wing extending forwardly of the back portion of the body.

[0013] In one form, the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the side wing, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the side wing and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

[0014] In one form, the child restraint comprises a headrest comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the occupants head, and the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the headrest, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the headrest and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

[0015] In one form, the headrest comprises a headrest body, and the position of the headrest body relative to the back portion of the body can be adjusted. 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 [0016] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a headrest for a child restraint, the headrest comprising a headrest body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to a head of a child restraint occupant, and an aperture extending through the headrest body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed headrest body surfaces, and a cushioning element extending through the aperture and comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed headrest body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed headrest body surface.

[0017] In one form, the headrest body comprises a plurality of apertures, where the cushioning element lines the headrest body, and for each aperture a portion providing exterior cushioning extending there through.

[0018] In one form, the headrest body comprises a back portion and a side wing portion extending forwardly of the back portion thereof.

[0019] In one form, the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the headrest body side wing portion, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the headrest body side wing portion and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

[0020] In one form, the headrest body comprises a pair of side wing portions extending forwardly of the back portion thereof, each side wing portion comprising an aperture and a cushioning element lining the side wing portion and providing external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

[0021] In one form, the child restraint may comprise any of one or more of one type of, or a combination of the above described (ie backrest, sidewing, or headrest) cushioning elements.

[0022] In one form, the child restraint comprises a child safety seat.

[0023] In one form, the child restraint comprises an infant capsule.

[0024] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a cushioning element for a child restraint comprising a body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to an occupant, and an aperture extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, the cushioning element comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed body surface, where the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 element lines at least a portion of the headrest body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture.

[0025] In one form, the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture.

[0026] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a cushioning element for a headrest for a child restraint, the headrest comprising a headrest body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to a head of a child restraint occupant, and an aperture extending through the headrest body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed headrest body surfaces, the cushioning element comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed headrest body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed headrest body surface, where the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the headrest body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture.

[0027] In one form, the or each cushion element may be detachably mounted to the surface from which it depends.

[0028] In one form, the or each, cushion element may comprise a hollow blow or injection moulded member that is deformable so as to collapse upon impact. In an alternative, the cushion element may be fdled (or partially filled) with one of more energy absorbent materials or fluids (such as air), or a combination of these.

[0029] 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 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.

[0030] In order to further understand the invention, preferred embodiments, will now be described. However, it will be realised that the scope of the invention is not to be confined or restricted to the details of the embodiments described below. Variations and alterations that would be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art are deemed as being incorporated within the scope of the invention. 2013248252 06 Sep 2017

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0032] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a child restraint assembly; [0033] Figure 2 is an isometric view of a seat body from the assembly of Figure 1; [0034] Figure 3 is an isometric view of a cushioning element from the assembly of Figure 1; [0035] Figure 4 is an isometric view of a headrest assembly for a child restraint; [0036] Figure 5 is an isometric view of a headrest body from the headrest assembly of Figure 4; and [0037] Figure 6 is an isometric view of a cushioning element from the headrest assembly of Figure 4.

[0038] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The present invention will be described below in relation to a Type-B and/or E child safety seat for use in a vehicle in a forward facing manner. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention could be equally applicable for use in a variety of different modes of child safety seats, including Type A/B, Type A/B/E etc, and still fall within the spirit of the present invention.

[0040] Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, where there is illustrated a child restraint in the form of a child safety seat 1 for use with a seatbelt equipped vehicle seat by being positioned thereon and retained thereto using the vehicle’s seat belts and, optionally, a tether strap extending from the child safety seat 1 to a vehicle mounting point.

[0041 ] The child safety seat 1 comprises a seat body 2 (also commonly referred to as a shell) for receiving an occupant, which comprises a base or seat portion 4, a back portion 6, and a pair of side wings 8 extending forward of the back portion 4 and upward from the base portion 6. The side wings 8 provide a physical barrier to provide a degree of side protection to the occupant, and limit their sideways movement. The seat body 2 thus defines an interior for receiving an occupant, and an exterior.

[0042] The seat body 2 will generally be formed from blow or injection moulded plastic, but is not so limited. 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 [0043] With reference to Figure 3, it can be seen that each of the side wings 8 comprises an aperture 10 through an upper portion thereof, and an aperture 12 through a lower portion thereof, each aperture 10 and 12 extending from the interior to the exterior of the respective side wing 8.

[0044] There is for each side wing 8 a cushioning element 20 depending therefrom so as to form a cushioned liner for the interior of the side wing 8.

[0045] In this embodiment each cushioning element 20 comprises a lining providing body 21, and a pair of outwardly projecting cushioned portions 22 and 24 which are both positioned and shaped to nest in and extend through the respective apertures 10 and 12 in the side wings 8 of the seat body 2, and sit proud of and thereby provide cushioning for the seat body 2 exterior.

[0046] The cushioning elements 20 comprise a thin walled flexible plastic shell which may be any one of hollow, partially or fully gas, liquid or gel filled, or contains or is filled with an energy absorbing material such as a foamed plastic or cellular material or the like. Further still, a combination of fillings may be employed.

[0047] In addition to providing a cushioned lining of its respective side wing 8, each cushioning element 20 provides external cushioning useful for the purpose of absorbing energy associated with impacts incident to the exterior of the seat body 2. What is more, these outwardly projecting cushioned portions 22 and 24 provide cushioning for other vehicle occupants who may be sitting alongside of the subject child restraint 1. Significantly then, the present arrangement provides for both interior and exterior cushioning of the child restraint 1 without significantly increasing the thickness of the side wings 8 of the same.

[0048] Child safety seat 1 may comprise a further cushioning structure, layer, layers, and/or a cushioning cover (not illustrated), that could be attached to or extend over all or portions of the cushioning elements 20 to alter their response to impacts and provide different characteristics to absorb energy. Materials such as any one or more of open or closed cell foams, expanded polystyrene, or other suitable energy absorbing materials may be employed in such a layer, layers or cover. A cushioning structure may be entirely or partially collapsible.

[0049] Referring now to Figures 4 and 6, where there is illustrated a headrest assembly 100 for a child restraint 1, which will in use be positionably adjustable with respect to a back portion 2 of the child restraint 1, for the purpose of accommodating growth of the occupant.

[0050] The seat body (not illustrated) from which headrest assembly 100 depends may be similar to seat body 2 described above, in as much as it comprises further cushioning elements, such as those illustrated at 20 in Figures 1 and 2. 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 [0051] The headrest 100 comprises a headrest body 102 having a back portion 106, and a pair of side wings 108 extending forward therefrom so as to extend on each side of a seat occupant’s head.

[0052] The headrest 100 defines an interior between the side wings 108 for receiving the occupant’s head, and an exterior.

[0053] Each of the side wings 108 comprises an aperture 110 (see Figure 6) extending from the interior to the exterior of the respective side wing 108.

[0054] Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, where there is illustrated a cushioning element 120 depending from the headrest body 102 so as to form a cushioned liner for this, which functions to provide energy absorption to reduce the severity of an impact between the child's head and the headrest body 102.

[0055] In this embodiment the headrest cushioning element 120 comprises a cushioned back portion 122 and a pair of cushioned side wing portions 124, each of which comprise outwardly projecting cushioned portions 126 which are both positioned and sized to nest in and extend through the apertures 110 in the respective side wings 108 of the headrest body 102, and sit proud of and thereby provide cushioning for the headrest body 102 exterior.

[0056] The cushioning element 120 comprises a thin walled flexible plastic shell which may be any one of hollow, partially or fully gas, liquid or gel fdled, or contains or is fdled with an energy absorbing material such as a foamed plastic or cellular material or the like. Further still, a combination of fdlings may be employed.

[0057] Headrest assembly 100 may comprise a further cushioning structure layer, layers, and/or a cushioning cover (not illustrated), that could be attached to or extend over all or portions of the cushioning element 120 to alter its response to impacts and provide different characteristics to absorb energy. Materials such as any one or more of open or closed cell foams, expanded polystyrene, or other suitable energy absorbing materials may be employed in such a layer, layers or cover. A cushioning structure may be entirely or partially collapsible.

[0058] In addition to providing a cushioned lining of the head rest, the cushioning element 120 provides external cushioning useful for the purpose of absorbing energy associated with impacts incident to the head rest body 102. Significantly, the present arrangement provides for both interior and exterior 2013248252 06 Sep 2017 cushioning of the headrest 100 without significantly increasing the thickness of the side wings 108 of the same.

[0059] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0060] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0061] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A child restraint comprising a body for receiving an occupant, the body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the occupant, and an aperture extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and a cushioning element extending through the aperture and comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed body surface, and wherein the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture.

2. The child restraint of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and the cushioning element provides for each aperture a portion providing exterior cushioning extending there through.

3. The child restraint of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, and a cushioning element for each aperture.

4. The child restraint as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises a base portion and a backrest portion.

5. The child restraint of claim 4, wherein the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the backrest portion, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the backrest portion and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

6. The child restraint of claim 4, wherein the body comprises a side wing extending forwardly of the back portion of the body.

7. The child restraint of claim 6, wherein the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the side wing, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the side wing and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

8. The child restraint as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the child restraint comprises a headrest comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the occupant’s head, and the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the headrest, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the headrest and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

9. The child restraint of claim 8, wherein the headrest comprises a headrest body, and the position of the headrest body relative to the back portion of the body can be adjusted.

10. The child restraint of claim 9, wherein the headrest body comprises a plurality of apertures, where the cushioning element lines the headrest body, and for each aperture a portion providing exterior cushioning extending there through.

11. The child restraint as in either of claims 9 or 10, wherein the headrest body comprises a back portion and a side wing portion extending forwardly of the back portion thereof.

12. The child restraint of claim 11, wherein the aperture extends through and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the headrest body side wing portion, and the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the headrest body side wing portion and provides external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

13. The child restraint of either of claims 11 or 12, wherein the headrest body comprises a pair of side wing portions extending forwardly of the back portion thereof, each side wing portion comprising an aperture and a cushioning element lining the side wing portion and external cushioning on the outwardly directed surface of the same.

14. The child restraint as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the child restraint comprises a child safety seat.

15. The child restraint as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the child restraint comprises an infant capsule.

16. A cushioning element for a child restraint comprising a body comprising surfaces directed inwardly and outwardly with respect to an occupant, and an aperture extending through the body and between a pair of opposing inwardly and outwardly directed body surfaces, the cushioning element comprising an inwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the inwardly directed body surface, and an outwardly directed portion providing cushioning of the outwardly directed body surface, wherein the inwardly directed portion of the cushioning element lines at least a portion of the body, and the outwardly directed portion of the cushioning element extends through the aperture.