AU2016253691A1 - Belt Tensioning Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a tensioning device (25) for applying tension to a belt member (20) adapted to secure at least part of a child restraint (2) to a seat (3) of a vehicle. The tensioning device (25) comprises a body (26) mounted to the at least part of a child restraint (2) to receive the belt member (20). The body (26) being operable to apply tension to the belt member (20) so as to tighten the belt member (20) about the child restraint (2) to firmly secure the child restraint (2) against the seat (3) of the vehicle. - -- -- 1-I - * - --

Description

2016253691 10 Nov 2016

BELT TENSIONING DEVICE RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2011902096 filed 30 May 2011, the entire contents of which 5 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tension adjustment device for adjusting the tension in a belt used to secure a device against a reference surface, and in particular, to a tension device for adjusting tension in a seat belt used to secure a io child safety restraint against a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND ART

Various laws and regulations dictate the manner in which infants and children are to be transported in vehicles, especially cars and the like. Most such laws require the infant/child to be restrained in a dedicated and approved child safety 15 seat that is anchored or otherwise secured to a rear seat of the vehicle. The child safety seat may include a dedicated harness that restrains the child in position within the seat, or the child safety seat may utilise the vehicle seat belt or a separate harness to restrain the child therein, depending upon the size and/or age of the child. 20 As such, there exist a variety of types of child safety seats that are approved for use with children of a variety of ages and/or sizes. Type A seats typically refer to rear facing seats or capsules suitable for accommodating babies/infants up to around 6 months of age and/or 70 cm in length and up to 12 kg. Type B seats typically refer to forward facing seats used to accommodate toddlers and young 25 children from approximately 6 months to 4 years, or from 8 - 18 kg. Type E seats typically refer to booster seats and booster cushions used to accommodate children between 4-8 years old, or approximately from 14-32 kg. Such Type E seats are typically used in combination with the vehicle seat belt. Some seats may be a combination of type A/B or B/E to accommodate a child as the child 30 grows thereby avoiding the need to purchase, or otherwise source, a variety of different seats to accommodate a growing child.

For type A seats in particular, the act of placing an infant into the vehicle safety seat requires positioning the child such that they are correctly located in the seat and securing them in position by using a harness typically provided integral with the child safety seat. This act can be quite difficult to perform without causing some form of distress to the child, especially if the child is asleep and the act of placing them in the seat and securing them within causes the child to wake up. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016 5 In this regard, many parents may employ a carriage system, such as a cany cot, bassinet or the like, to transport the child to and from the vehicle. The child may be asleep and comfortable in the cany cot and the act of transferring the child from the cany cot to the vehicle safety seat may awaken the child thus causing the child to become distressed. Similarly, many infants may fall asleep whilst io travelling in the vehicle and transferring the child from the vehicle safety seat to a carry cot at the end of a journey typically requires waking the child from their slumber and repositioning the child in the cany cot, which can be distressing to an infant.

For this reason, child restraints incorporating a removable infant carrier unit 15 secured within a base unit that is in turn fitted to a vehicle seat have been proposed. Such devices typically comprise a bassinet or cany cot that is removably mounted to a dedicated base unit. The base unit is positioned on a rear seat of the vehicle to receive the bassinet or carry cot therein, such that when received, the bassinet or cany cot is located in a rearward facing manner 20 with respect to the front of the vehicle. The base is typically shaped such that a tether strap can be employed to extend around a front-most portion of the base or cany cot to be secured to a dedicated anchorage point on the vehicle that is typically located behind the vehicle seat. The rear most portion of the base is typically secured in position by way of the vehicle seat belt. The vehicle seat 25 belt is typically passed over the rear portion of the base or through a recess provided in the base, such that the rear-most portion of the base is securely retained in position on the vehicle seat. The bassinet or carry cot is then inserted into the base such that it engages with the base to securely retain the bassinet or cany cot in position. 30 One problem with such a prior art anangement is that the tether strap used to secure the front-most portion of the base or carry cot typically extends across or over the open portion of the base, thereby preventing or significantly impeding simple placement and/or removal of the bassinet or cany cot. Hence in order to place or remove the bassinet or carry cot in or from the base, it is often 35 necessary to disconnect or loosen the tether strap such that it can be provide access to the base, and after the bassinet or cany cot has been positioned within or removed from the base, the tether strap is reconnected or retightened. Such a requirement is cumbersome and requires significant effort on behalf of the 2 parent or guardian to position/remove the child. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

An arrangement that is directed towards addressing this problem is disclosed in the Applicants co-pending Australian Patent Application No. 2011200416. In this arrangement a child safety restraint is disclosed comprising a base unit that 5 is secured to the vehicle seat by the vehicle seat belt and/or a tether strap. The base unit is able to then receive the cany cot or bassinet containing the child, without any requirement for the parent or user to substantially reconfigure the tether strap on the base unit.

With the arrangement described in the Applicant’s above-referenced co-pending 10 Australian Patent Application No. 2011200416, there is a need to secure the base unit to the vehicle seat through the use of the vehicle seat belt and the tether strap. This ensures that the base unit is secured in place so as to resist any unwanted forward or lateral movement in use which may be transferred to the child present in the carry cot or bassinet. However, due to the retractable nature 15 of most modem vehicle seat belt systems, correct tension of the seat belt may be difficult to obtain and this may adversely affect the stability of the child safety seat when in use.

In forward facing Type B or Type E seats that may or may not have a separate base unit, a similar problem is also present. Stable positioning of the seat on the 20 vehicle seat is reliant upon correct tensioning of the vehicle seat belt about the seat. With retractable seat belts common in most modem vehicles, correct tension of the seat belt about the seat is not always easy to achieve.

As such, there is a need to provide a tensioning device that achieves tension in the seat belt in child safety restraints to provide for a stable positioning of the 25 child safety seat on the vehicle seat, to ultimately increase the safety of the child located therein.

The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be constmed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above prior art 30 discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION 3

The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a tensioning device 5 for applying tension to a belt member adapted to secure at least part of a child restraint to a seat of a vehicle, the tensioning device comprising a body mounted to a least part of a child restraint to receive said belt member, the body being operable to apply tension to said belt member so as to tighten said belt member about the at least part of the child restraint to firmly secure the at least part of io the child restraint against the seat of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the body comprises a space through which the belt member is received. The body may comprise a U-shaped member with the space being formed between opposing arms of the U-shaped member. In one form, the space may be substantially vertically oriented to receive the belt member. In 15 another form, the space may be substantially horizontally oriented to receive the belt member.

The body may be mounted to the at least part of the child restraint so as to be rotationally movable about a central axis thereof. The body may comprise a handle to facilitate application of rotational motion thereto, such that the 20 application of rotational motion causes the belt member to be wound about the body thus causing tension to be applied to the belt member.

The body may rotate upon a ratchet and pawl mechanism such that the body is free to rotate in a first direction but prevented from rotating in a second direction. The ratchet and pawl mechanism may comprise the body being 25 mounted on a first plate that is mounted within a second plate. The first plate and the second plate may be configured to facilitate rotation of the first plate in a first direction and prevent rotation of said first plate in a second direction. The first plate may be configured to have one or more teeth provided along an external periphery thereof which engage with one or more teeth provided along 3o an internal peripheiy of the second plate. In such an arrangement, rotation of the body in said first direction may cause the belt member to be wound about said body thus causing the retaining belt to be tightened about the at least part of the child restraint. Rotation of the body in the second direction may cause the belt member to be unwound from the body thus loosening the belt member 35 about the at least part of the child restraint.

According to another embodiment, the body may be mounted to a base unit of 4 the child restraint. The child restraint may comprise a seat portion and a separate base unit, with the base unit being configured to removably receive the seat portion. The body may be slidably movable along a surface of the base unit. The body may be in the form of a tongue member having one or more 5 guides about which the belt member is received so as to grip the belt member as it extends about the base unit. The body may be slidable within a groove formed in a surface of the base unit such that slidable movement of the body in a first direction creates tension in the belt member, thus causing the belt member to become tightened about the base unit. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016 io In one embodiment, the seat portion may comprise a shell member into which a child is to be secured. The shell member may be a cany cot removably received in the base unit.

The base unit may comprise one or more belt guides for guiding the passage of the belt member across a surface of the base unit. The belt guides may be 15 located on opposing sides of the base unit and may comprise a recess formed in the base unit. In another form the belt guides may comprise one or more grooves or depressions formed in the base unit. In yet another form the belt guides may comprise a lug member or projection provided on the base unit.

In another embodiment, the belt member may be a seat belt of a vehicle. In one 20 form, the seat belt of the vehicle may comprise a lap belt. In another form, the seat belt of the vehicle may comprise a combined lap belt and a sash belt.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a base unit for a child restraint device comprising: a body portion adapted to be received on a seat of a vehicle and 25 configured to removably receive a shell member for supporting a child therein; and a tensioning device mounted on said body portion and configured to receive a belt member wherein said belt member is positioned about said body portion and the tensioning device is operable to apply tension to 30 said belt member so as to tighten said belt member about said body portion to firmly secure the body portion against the seat of the vehicle.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a child restraint for a vehicle comprising: a seat portion configured to accommodate a child therein; 5 a base unit positionable on a seat of a vehicle and configured to removably receive the seat portion; 2016253691 10 Nov 2016 at least one belt member configured to extend about said base unit to at least partially secure the base unit against a surface of the seat of the 5 vehicle; and a tensioning device mounted on the base unit and configured to receive the at least one belt member when said at least one belt member is positioned about said base unit, the tensioning device being operable to apply tension to said at least one belt member so as to tighten said at least io one belt member about said base unit to firmly secure the base unit against the seat of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which: 15 Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a child restraint incorporating the belt tensioning device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an isolated perspective view of the base unit of the child restraint of Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 is an isolated perspective view of the base unit of the child restraint of Figure 1 in use with the tensioning device of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an isolated perspective view of the tensioning device of Figures 1-3; 25 Figure 5 is an isolated perspective view of the tensioning device of

Figure 4 in use;

Figure 6 is an isolated perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tensioning device of the present invention;

Figure 7 is an isolated perspective view of yet another alternative 30 embodiment of the tensioning device of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a base unit of a child restraint 6 incorporating the tensioning device of Figure 7; 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

Figure 9 is a perspective front view of a base unit according to an embodiment of the present invention employing a retaining belt to secure against the seat of the vehicle; 5 Figure 10 is an enlarged view showing the manner in which the retaining belt of the arrangement shown in Figure 9 attaches to a vehicle anchorage point; and

Figure 11 is a side view of another embodiment of a child restraint incorporating the belt tensioning device in accordance with an io embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to 15 be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

The present invention will be described below in relation to its application to a child safety seat of the type having a removable cany cot or bassinet 5 as is disclosed in the Applicants co-pending Australian Patent Application No. 2011200416. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention could 20 be equally applied for use with any type of child safety seat where the seat, or a portion of the seat, is secured to a vehicle seat by way of a seat belt or the like, and still fall within the scope of the present invention. This may include a Type B or Type E forward facing child safety seat that may or may not be removably attachable to a separate base unit. 25 Referring to Figure 1, a side view of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a child restraint 2 of the type having a removable carry cot or bassinet 5 is shown. The child restraint 2 is configured to be received on a rear seat 3 of a vehicle; however it will be appreciated that the child restraint 2 may alternatively be positioned on a front seat or any other suitable seat location of a 30 vehicle, depending upon the vehicle seating options available.

In the embodiment as shown, the child restraint 2 comprises a carry cot or bassinet 5 which is configured to be securely received on a base unit 10 positioned on the rear seat 3 of the vehicle. The carry cot 5 contains a seat shell 6 into which a child, typically an infant, is located. Whilst not shown, the cany 7 cot 5 typically includes an internal harness for securely retaining the child within the shell 6 of the cany cot 5. A handle 7 is provided to enable the cany cot 5 to be lifted out of the base unit 10 and transported by a parent or guardian and the surface of the base 10 comprises releasable locking members 8 that 5 facilitate engagement of the cany cot 5 with the base 10. The manner in which the carry cot 5 and the base 10 inter-engage will not be described in further detail, suffice as to say that the engagement is sufficient to meet standard safety requirements. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

Refening to Figure 2, one embodiment of a base unit 10 is shown in isolation. io The base unit 10 comprises a base portion 12 that is configured to be received on the substantially horizontal portion of the vehicle seat 3 in the manner as shown in Figure 1. A rear portion 16 extends substantially orthogonally from the base portion 12 so as to extend along a backrest of the vehicle seat 3 when the base unit 10 is positioned in the manner as shown in Figure 1. In the 15 embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the rear portion 16 comprises a moulded lower region formed integrally with the base portion 12, which may be formed from a blow moulded or injection moulded plastic material and an upper region. The upper region may be in the form of a tube member, such as a steel or aluminium tube, configured to extend along a backrest portion of the vehicle 20 seat 3. A tethering means 19 is provided on the uppermost portion of the upper region thereof, to facilitate anchorage of the rear portion 16 of the base unit 10 to a dedicated vehicle anchorage point (not shown). In the embodiment as shown, a single strap is employed to function as the tethering means 19. However, the tethering means 19 may also comprise two or more lengths of 25 strap arranged in a v-configuration to achieve this purpose, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

The base portion 12 of the base unit 10 is configured to be secured in position against the substantially horizontal portion of the vehicle seat 3 by way of the vehicle seat belt system 20, as shown in Figure 3. The vehicle seat belt system 30 20 is typically provided with the vehicle in the form of either a lap belt, or a combined lap and sash belt that is typically designed to restrain an adult positioned on the rear seat 3 of the vehicle. In the present invention, the conventional vehicle seat belt system 20 is employed to restrain the base unit 10 of the child restraint 2 in the manner to be described in more detail below. 35 The base portion 12 comprises a pair of recesses or belt guides 13 formed on opposing lateral sides thereof, in the manner as shown in Figure 2. The belt guides 13 may take a variety of forms other than a recess, such as a groove, 8 depression or lug member, or any other arrangement that acts to position or locate the belts of the seat belt system 20 as they pass over the base portion 12. In the embodiment as shown, the belt guides 13 are located a distance forward from the rear portion 16 of the base unit 10 such that the vehicle seat belt system 5 20 extends out from the vehicle seat 3 and over the base portion 12 of the base unit 10 in a path determined by the belt guides 13. As discussed above, the vehicle seat belt system 20 may be either a lap belt or a lap/sash belt combined in a conventional manner, depending upon the specification of the vehicle with which the child restraint 2 is being used. It will be appreciated the whilst the io guides 13 are shown as formed on the base portion 12 of the base unit 10, in an alternative form the guides may be formed in the rear portion 16 of the base unit 10, such that the belts of the seat belt system 20 pass over the rear portion 16 to hold the base unit 10 in position on the vehicle seat. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

According to the present invention, a tensioning device 25 is located on a 15 surface of the base portion 12 of the base unit 10. The tensioning device 25 is positioned approximately midway between the belt guides 13 such that the seat belt system 20 passes through the tensioning device 25 as it extends across the base portion 12, in the manner as shown in Figure 3. As discussed above, in arrangements where the belt system 20 is to pass over the rear portion 16 of the 20 base unit 10, the tensioning device may be positioned on a surface of the rear portion 16.

Referring to Figure 4 and 5, one embodiment of a tensioning device 25 in accordance with the present invention is shown in isolation. The tensioning device 25 comprises a U-shaped member 26 having a pair of upright arm 25 members 26a, 26b that define a space 30 formed therebetween. The space 30 is configured to receive the seat belt system 20 as it passes across the surface of the base portion 12 (or rear portion 16) of the base unit 10 such that the seat belt system 20 is received substantially vertically therebetween.

The U-shaped member 26 is mounted on a first plate 27 that is free to rotate 3o within a second plate 28 in a direction as represented by the arrow ‘A’ in Figure 4. A handle or lever 29 is foldably connected to the U-shaped member 26 so as to be used to apply a rotational motion to the U-shaped member 26 in the direction of Arrow ‘A’. The second plate 28 has an internal recess into which the first plate 27 is received. Whilst not shown, the perimeter surface of the 35 internal recess of the second plate 28 may be configured to engage with the outer periphery of the first plate 27. In this regard, the inner periphery of the second plate 28 may comprise teeth that mesh with teeth formed on the outer 9 O peripheiy of the first plate 27 to facilitate rotational movement of the first plate 2016253691 10 Nov 27 in a first direction under action of the lever 29. Such a configuration would thus prevent rotational movement of the first plate 27 in an opposite direction such that the tensioning device 25 would function as a ratchet-type device with 5 rotational movement of the U-shaped member 26 would cause the belt 20 to wind about the arm members 26a, 26b, to remove any slack present in the seat belt system 20 - as is shown in Figure 5.

In the device 25 described above, the first plate 27 may become disengaged with the second plate 28 by depressing the U-shaped member 26 to enable the first io plate 27 to freely slide within the second plate 28 to facilitate release of the device 25 and thus removal of the seat belt system 20. Other means for engaging and disengaging the device 25 are also envisaged.

In the embodiments as shown in Figures 1-5, the tensioning device 25 is in the form of a vertically extending device configured such that the seat belt system 15 20 passes therethrough in a vertical or upright manner. In Figure 6, an alternative arrangement of the tensioning device 25 is shown. In this arrangement, the tensioning device 25 is configured in a horizontal manner such that the seat belt system 20 passes through the horizontally aligned space 30 as it travels over the base portion 12 of the base unit 10. It will be appreciated that 20 the device 25 will function in substantially the same manner as discussed above but will be mounted to the base portion 12 of the base unit 10 by way of a mounting plate 35 as shown in Figure 6. It will be appreciated that the configuration shown in Figure 6 may be more ideally suited to an embodiment whereby the tensioning device 25 is mounted to the rear portion 16 of the base 25 unit 10.

An alternative embodiment of a tensioning device 25 of the present invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment, rather than the device 25 functioning as a ratchet-type arrangement, the device 25 employs sliding movement to apply tension to the seat belt system 20. 30 The device 25 comprises a main body 40 in the form of a tongue member that is free to slide within a recess 42 formed in the base portion 12 (or in the rear portion 16) of the base unit 10, in the direction of arrow ‘C\ The tongue member 40 has a pair of projection guides 44 arranged at opposing sides, adjacent the head thereof. The projection guides 44 are separated or spaced 35 from the tongue member 40 such that the seat belt system 20 can be passed therebetween and across the front face of the head of the tongue member 40 in 10 the manner as shown in Figure 8. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

The tongue member 40 is arranged in the recess 42 such that it substantially projects therefrom such that it is above the surface of the base portion 12. When the tongue member 40 is in a forward position, as shown in Figure 8, 5 namely with the head portion thereof being positioned adjacent the rear portion 16 of the base unit 10, the seat belt system 20 can be passed between the projection guides 44 as it passes between the belt guides 13 formed in the base portion 12. Following the seat belt system 20 being located about the tongue member 40, the tongue member 40 is slid in a reai-ward manner towards the io front of the base portion 12, thus pulling the seat belt system 20 as the tongue member 40 moves and taking up any slack present in the seat belt system 20.

It will be appreciated that the tongue member 40 will be locked in position following movement to ensure that the seat belt system 20 is in a state of tension. In this regard, the tongue member may be free to slide upon a pawl and 15 ratchet type system that permits sliding movement of the tongue member 40 in the rearward direction to apply tension to the seat belt system 20, but prevents movement of the tongue member in the forward direction.

It will be appreciated that the tensioning device 25 as described in each of the embodiments above may take a variety of different forms. In any form of the 20 tensioning device 25, it will be important to provide a means for receiving the one or more belts of the belt system 20 and a means for applying tension to the one or more belts by way of a movable mechanism. Whilst the embodiments described above have included winding and sliding mechanism to achieve this purpose, other mechanisms may also be employed which still fall within the 25 spirit of the present invention.

In each of the embodiments shown in Figures 1-8 and described above, the device 25 is shown in use with a conventional seat belt system 20 comprising either a lap belt or a combined lap belt and sash belt. It will be appreciated that the present invention also has application to other types of anchorage systems 30 5 0 that may be used on vehicles, other than a conventional seat belt clip and latch mechanism. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, an embodiment using a latch 55 as may be used with a US-type latch restraint system. In this arrangement a belt 57 having a pair of alligator-type latches 55 arranged at either ends is employed to secure the base unit 10 to the vehicle seat 3. As is shown, the belt 35 57 is arranged to extend across the base portion 12 of the base unit 10 such that it is received within the device 25 and attaches at its ends to a dedicated 11 mounting 52 via latches 55. The dedicated mounting 52 is fixed to the vehicle chassis at the junction where the seat portion and the backrest portion of the vehicle seat 3 meet. The latches 55 comprise an activation/release mechanism 56 that facilitates attachment/detachment of the latches 55 with the mounting 5 52. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

In this arrangement 50, the belt 57 is first positioned across the base portion 10 such that latches 55 engage with the mountings 52 provided on either sides of the base unit 10. Any slack present in the belt 57 can be removed by activating the device 25 such that the belt securely retains the base portion 10 against the io vehicle seat 3.

Finally, in relation to Figure 11, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention used in relation to a forward facing child restraint 2. In this embodiment the child restraint 2 may be in the form of a type B or type E child safety seat, having a seat portion 100 mounted on a base 110. The base unit 10 15 receives the base 110 of the child restraint 2 in the manner as described above, and a connector 120 may be provided on the rear of the seat portion 100 to engage with a corresponding connector (not shown) provided on the rear portion 16 of the base unit 10, to provide additional support to the restrain 2 when positioned. 20 It will be appreciated that the tensioning device 25 of the present invention provides a means for providing tightening adjustment of a vehicle seat belt system about a base unit 10 of a child restraint to secure the child restraint in a position for use. The provision of such a tensioning device with the child restraint reduces the need for a user to perform manual tightening adjustment of 25 the belt system and reduces the likelihood of the seat being incorrectly fitted in place in the vehicle.

Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contraiy is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word 30 “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contraiy is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, 35 horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or 12 instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the device uppermost. 2016253691 10 Nov 2016

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the ait that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein 5 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 10 13

Claims (15)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A base unit for a child restraint device, the base unit comprising: a base portion adapted to be received on a substantially horizontal seat of a vehicle; a rear portion extending substantially orthogonally from the base portion; and a tensioning device, slidably mounted on the base unit to apply tension to a belt member.
2. 2. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is slidably mounted to the base unit to apply tension to a vehicle seat belt member.
3. 3. The base unit of claim 2, wherein the tensioning device is slidably mounted to the base unit to apply tension to a lap/sash portion of the vehicle seat belt member.
4. 4. The base unit of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tensioning device is mounted on the base portion of the base unit.
5. 5. The base unit of claim 4, further including a recess for slidably mounting the tensioning device therein.
6. 6. The base unit of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tensioning device includes a body and one or more guide members configured to cooperate with the body to receive the belt member.
7. 7. The base unit of any one of claims 1 to 7, further including belt guides located on opposite sides thereof.
8. 8. A child restraint for a vehicle, the child restraint comprising: a seat portion configured to accommodate a child therein; a base unit for the seat portion, the base unit being positionable on a seat of a vehicle; and a tensioning device slidably mounted on the base unit, to apply tension to a belt member.
9. 9. The child restraint of claim 8, wherein the base unit is configured to removably receive the seat portion.
10. 10. The child restraint of claim 8 or 9, wherein the tensioning device is slidably mounted to the base unit to apply tension to a vehicle seat belt member.
11. 11. The child restraint of claim 10, wherein the tensioning device is slidably mounted to the base unit to apply tension to a lap/sash portion of the vehicle seat member.
12. 12. The child restraint of any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the tensioning device includes a body and one or more guide members configured to cooperate with the body to receive the belt member.
13. 13. The child restraint of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the tensioning device is slidable within a recess formed in the base unit.
14. 14. The child restraint of any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the base unit includes a base portion and a rear portion extending substantially orthogonal from the base portion, the tensioning device being located on the base portion.
15. 15. The child restraint of any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the base unit includes belt guides located on opposite sides thereof.