AU2016256730A1

AU2016256730A1 - A Child Restraint for a Vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2016256730A1
Application number: AU2016256730A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Horsfall; Richard Horsfall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-01
Filing date: 2016-11-09
Publication date: 2016-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-01
Also published as: AU2016256730B2

Abstract

cificationfinal There is described a child safety seat (10) for a vehicle comprising a carry cot (12) comprising a shell (13) into which the child is received. A base unit (14) is adapted to be positioned on a seat (2) of the vehicle so as to removably 5 receive the carry cot (12) thereon. The base unit (14) has a substantially vertical portion (15) configured to be received against a backrest of the seat (2) of the vehicle and a tether (20) is connected to the substantially vertical portion (15) to extend therefrom so as to be secured to a vehicle anchorage point located remote from the carry cot (12).

Description

2016256730 09 Nov 2016 A child restraint for a vehicle

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2010900375 filed on 1 February 2010 the contents of which are incorporated herein by 5 reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to child restraint for a vehicle, and in particular, to a base for a child restraint that removably receives a carriage portion into which the child is located.

BACKGROUND ART io A variety of carriage devices exist for canying a child, particularly in infant, in a supine position. Such devices are commonly referred to as cany cots and comprise a shell into which the infant is contained by way of a harness or the like, and a handle portion which is gripped by an adult or guardian of the child so as to transport the child. The shell of the device is typically configured to provide a degree of protection to the child and is 15 made from a sufficiently robust material, such as plastic or the like. The shell is also typically shaped to be supported in a stable position on a flat surface, thereby allowing the adult or guardian of the child to safely place the device on a ground surface or the like. In this regard, the handle may be positionable to engage with the ground surface so as to provide further stability to the device. 20 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 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 25 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.

As such, there exist a variety and 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 30 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 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

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016 old, or approximately from 14 - 32 kg, and which are typically used in combination with the vehicle seat belt. Some seats may be a combination type A/B or B/E to accommodate a child as the child grows thereby avoiding the need to purchase, or otherwise source, a variety of different seats to accommodate a growing child. 5 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 fastening them in position by using the harness typically provided 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 was asleep and the act causes the child to awaken. io Similarly, many parents employ a carriage, such as a carry cot, to transport the child to and from the vehicle. The child may be asleep and comfortable in the carry cot and in transferring the child from the cany cot to the vehicle safety seat the child may awaken and become distressed. Similarly, many infants may fall asleep whilst travelling in the vehicle and transferring the child from the vehicle safety seat to a carry cot at the end of 15 a journey typically requires waking the child from their slumber and repositioning the child in the carry cot, which can be distressing to an infant.

Child restraints comprising a removable infant carrier secured into a base unit that is in turn fitted to a vehicle seat have previously been proposed for addressing this problem. As is shown, such devices typically comprise a bassinet or carry cot that is removably 20 received in a base. The base is positioned on a rear seat of the vehicle such that when received therein, the bassinet or carry cot is located in a rearward facing manner, with respect to the front of the vehicle. The base is typically shaped such that a tether strap extends around a front-most portion of the base or carry cot to be secured back to a dedicated anchorage point on the vehicle located behind the vehicle seat. The rear most 25 portion of the base is typically secured in position by way of the vehicle seat belt. The vehicle seat belt is typically passed over 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 cany cot is then inserted into the base such that it engages with the base to securely retain the bassinet or cany cot in position. One example of 30 such an assembly is shown and described in relation to US Patent No. 4,681,368.

One problem with such a prior art arrangement 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 removal or placement of the bassinet or carry cot. Hence in order to remove the bassinet or carry cot from the 35 base, it is often necessary to disconnect or loosen the tether strap and then reconnect or tighten the tether strap upon placement of the bassinet or carry cot in the base. Such a requirement is cumbersome and requires significant effort on behalf of the parent or 2 guardian to position/remove the child. 2016256730 09 Nov 2016

Hence, there is a need to provide a restraint system for a vehicle that provides improved removal/placement of a bassinet or carry cot without requiring significant adjustment to the base unit of the restraint system.

The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above prior art 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

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a rearward facing child safety seat for a vehicle comprising: a base unit configured to be positioned on a vehicle seat, the base unit having a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion. The child seat includes a tether L5 connectable to the substantially vertical portion and configured to extend therefrom to a vehicle anchorage point. The safety seat further includes an untethered carry cot removeably receivable within the base unit. The carry cot is configured to lockably engage the horizontal portion of the base unit.

In one embodiment, the substantially vertical portion and the substantially horizontal portions of the zo base unit may define a recess or internal portion into which the carry cot is received.

The base unit may further comprise a pair of raised walls extending laterally along opposing sides thereof. A pair or slots or apertures may be provided in the opposing side walls to provide a path for a seat belt of the vehicle to facilitate securement of the base unit to the seat of the vehicle.

In an embodiment, the base unit may have one or more engagement members provided thereon 25 configured to lock the carry cot in position against the base. The engagement members may be controllable to facilitate disengagement and removal of the carry cot from the base unit.

The carry cot may include one or more recesses configured to receive the one or more engagement members.

In an alternative embodiment, the substantially vertical portion of the base unit may be at least 30 partially constructed from a tubular material. The tubular material may be plastic or metal or aw combination of plastic and metal. The tubular material may taper towards an upper region thereof to receive the tether. 3

In yet another embodiment, the carry cot may be supported such that it is movable with respect to the base unit. In one form, the carry cot may be rotationally movable with respect to the base unit about a central axis. In another form, the carry cot may be tiltable with respect to the base unit to facilitate adjustment of an angle of reclination of the carry cot with respect to the base unit. The 5 base unit may be removably engaged with the base unit. 2016256730 09 Nov 2016

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a base unit of the child safety seat in accordance with an lo embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a carry cot of the child safety seat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of the base unit of Figure 1 secured in position on a vehicle seat; L5 Figure 5 is a side view of the child safety seat of the present invention in position on a vehicle seat;

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a base unit of the present invention;

Figures 7A - 7F show side views of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. >o 4

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016

The present invention will be described below in relation to a Type-A mode child safety seat for use in a vehicle in a rearward 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 5 the spirit of the present invention.

Referring firstly to figure 5, a child safety seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in position on a rear-seat 2 of a vehicle. The child safety seat 10 is secured in position on the vehicle seat 2 in a rearward facing manner, typical of a Type-A mode child safety seat, with the vehicle travelling in the direction of arrow io A.

The child safety seat 10 comprises a removable carry cot or bassinet 12 that is positioned within a base unit 14 in the manner as shown. When the carry cot 12 is positioned within the base unit 14 it engages with the base unit 14 to be securely retained in position with respect to the vehicle seat 2, as will be described in more detail 15 below. The ability to engage/disengage the carry cot 12 from the base unit 14 provides an ability to readily transport a child from the vehicle without the need to remove the child from the carry cot 12 of the child safety seat 10.

Referring to Figure 3, an embodiment of a carry cot 12 suitable for use in the child safety seat 10 of the present invention is shown. The carry cot 12 resembles a 20 conventional carry cot and comprises a shell 13 into which the child is located. The shell 13 has a central cavity or recess for receiving the child such that the walls of the shell 13 extend at least partially about the child to provide a degree of protection to the child. The central cavity or recess may include an integral harness (not shown), such as a conventional five-point or three-point harness, to aid in restraining the child within the 25 carry cot 12. It will be appreciated that a variety of types of harness, both integral and external harnesses, may be employed to perform this function, as is well understood in the art.

The cany cot 12 may include a handle 11 that provides a means for carrying the carry cot 12. The handle 11 is pivotally attached to the shell 13 and is movable in the 30 direction of arrow B to enable a parent or guardian of the child to pivot the handle into a desired position such that the child can be transported to and/or from the vehicle without the need to remove the child from the carry cot 12. The base 13a of the shell 13 may be configured to provide a substantially level surface or level arrangement of point(s) such that the carry cot 12 can be supported on a support surface such as ground or a floor. 35 Such a feature can enable the carry cot to be readily positioned on the floor surface in a stable manner. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the handle 11 may be pivotal to 5

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016 engage with a floor surface when the carry cot is located thereon, to provide additional stability to the carry cot 12 when in such a position.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, one embodiment of the base unit 14 is shown in detail. The base unit 14 generally comprises a substantially upright portion 15 and a 5 substantially horizontal portion 16. The upright portion 15 and the horizontal portion 16 are formed integrally as is shown by way of a moulding process, however, it will be appreciated that both portions 15, 16 may be formed separately by other processes and still fall within the spirit of the present invention. A pair of raised edges 17 extend along lateral sides of the base unit 14 to define sides of io the base unit 14 and an internal portion thereof into which the carry cot 12 is received. Slots 18 are provided in the raised edges 17 at a region proximal the region where the substantially upright portion 15 and substantially horizontal portion 16 meet, so as to provide a path for a seat belt 6 of the vehicle to pass in the manner as shown in Figure 4.

It will be appreciated that the vehicle seat belt 6 may be a lap belt or a combined lap and 15 sash belt that is configured to extend over the base unit 14 to engage with a buckle located on an opposing side of the base unit 14.

Referring to Figure 4, when the base unit 14 is located on the vehicle seat 2, the substantially upright portion 15 is received against the corresponding upright back support of the vehicle seat 2 and the substantially horizontal portion 16 is received on 20 the corresponding seat portion of the vehicle seat 2. By passing the vehicle seat belt 6 through the slots 18 formed in the raised edges 17 and securing and tightening the seat belt 6 about the base unit 14, the lower portion of the base unit is securely held in position against the vehicle seat 2 and is resistant to excess and inadvertent shifting or movement with respect to the vehicle seat 2, especially in the event of a vehicle accident 25 or sudden movement of the vehicle. The method of securing the belt 6 may alternatively be through holes or apertures formed in the base unit. A tether system 20 is provided to firmly anchor the upper portion of the base unit 14 in position. As is shown, the tether system 20 comprises a strap member 22 that is attached to a central region of upright portion 15 of the base unit 14. The strap member 30 22 has an adjustment mechanism 23 provided thereon to enable the length of the strap member 22 to be adjusted to suit a variety of vehicle applications. A hook member 24 is provided at a distal end of the strap member 22 to engage with a anchorage point 5 provided on the vehicle. In the embodiment as depicted in Figure 4, the anchorage point is located on a parcel shelf 4 of the vehicle. However, it will be appreciated that 35 the anchorage point 5 may be located at a variety of positions on the vehicle as permitted by the vehicle manufacturer. Similarly, in the embodiment as shown the strap 6

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016 member 22 is in the form of a single length of strapping or webbing attached to the upright portion 15 of the base unit 14. However, it will be appreciated that the strap member may comprise a loop of strapping or webbing, or other suitable material, attached at opposing sides of the upright portion 15 of the base unit. 5 In the arrangement as shown, once the hook member 24 engages with the anchorage point 5 on the vehicle, the strap member 22 may be tightened to secure the upper region of the base unit 14 in position with respect to the vehicle seat 2. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement provides for a base unit 14 that is securely anchored in position against the seat 2 of the vehicle at a lower region and at an upper region io thereof, utilising both the seat belt 6 and the dedicated vehicle anchorage point 4.

In this arrangement the tether system 20 is configured such that it does not extend over the open region of the base unit 14, thereby providing clear access to the base unit to receive the cany cot 12 therein.

As is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the base unit 14 has a plurality of engagement 15 members 25 formed thereon. The engagement members 25 project from a surface of the base unit 14 and are configured to be received in recesses (not shown) formed in the carry cot 12 so as to lock the carry cot 12 in position against the base unit 14. The engagement members 25 are configured such that as the carry cot 12 is lowered into position against the base unit 14, the engagement members align with the corresponding 20 recesses in the carry cot to facilitate locking of the carry cot 12 in position. The engagement members 25 and/or the recesses may be releasably disengaged through an appropriate releasing mechanism provided on the child safety seat 10 to facilitate controlled release and removal of the carry cot with respect to the base unit. In another form, the engagement members 25 may be adjustable in position to enable the child 25 safety seat to be readily adapted to suit different types of vehicles and seating positions.

In such an arrangement, the cany cot 12 can be removed from the base unit to transport the child and cany cot to and from the vehicle as desired. This obviates the need to wake the child or handle the child, significantly reducing the likelihood of the child becoming agitated and/or upset. 30 Referring to Figure 6, an alternative arrangement of a base unit 30 in accordance with the present invention is shown. As in the base unit 14 discussed in relation to Figures 1 - 5 above, the base unit 30 is configured to be received on a seat 2 of a vehicle. Similarly, the base unit 30comprises a substantially vertical portion 32 and a substantially horizontal portion 34 that are each configured to be located on the 35 corresponding vertical and horizontal portions of the vehicle seat 2 respectively. In this regard, to accommodate different vehicle seat 2 arrangements, the substantially vertical 7

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016 portion 32 may be adjustable in relation to the substantially horizontal portion 34.

In the embodiment as shown in Figure 6, a portion of the substantially vertical portion 32 comprises a piping or tubing 33 that is configured to provide a mounting for the tether 20. In this regard, the tubing 33 comprises metal tubing that extends from the 5 base unit 30 in a loop so as to pass over the surface of the vehicle seat 2. The upper portion of the tubing 33 may taper or be substantially narrower with respect to the lower portion thereof so as to provide a surface around which the tether 20 is mounted. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the tubing 33 may vary and the material may be plastic or a combination o metal or plastic and may form the entire substantially vertical io portion 32 or only a portion thereof.

The substantially horizontal portion 34 may also be configured to comprise tubing or a portion of tubing. In the embodiment as shown in Figure 6, the substantially horizontal portion 34 comprises a planar surface made of plastic or the like. The planar surface 34 has a pair of recesses 35 or apertures (not shown) formed therein to provide a passage 15 for the vehicle seat belt 6 to pass therethrough in the manner as described above. Similarly, engagement members 25 are provided thereon to engage with the carry cot (not shown) to secure the cany cot in position on the vehicle seat 2.

Referring to Figures 7 A - 7F an alternative embodiment of the child safety seat of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the cany cot 12 is configured such that 20 it is able to rotate about a central access through at least 180 degrees to be used in a rearward facing manner, as shown in Fig 7D and a forward facing manner, as shown in

Fig 7F.

In his embodiment, the base unit 14, 30 is configured in the manner as discussed above, and comprises a number of engagement members 25 that project from a surface of the 25 base unit 14, 30. The carry cot 12 comprises a shell 13 that is mounted on base 13a in a manner that facilitates rotational movement of the shell 13 with respect to the base 13a such that when the base 13a is securely mounted on the surface of the base unit 14, 30 of the safety seat, the shell 13 is able to be rotated through at least 180 degrees to enable the cany cot 12 to be used as either a forward or a rearward facing seat. As shown in 30 Figure 7D, the shell 13 may also be tiltably adjustable with respect to the base 13a to enable an angle of inclination of the shell 20 to be adjusted for use. Movement of the shell 13 with respect to the base 13a is controlled with a locking mechanism to enable the shell to be locked in position during use. In such an arrangement, in addition to the shell 13 being able to be used in a forward and rearward facing manner, the shell may 35 also be rotated into a 90 degree position as shown in Figures 7B and 7E to assist in removing or accessing the child when located in the child safety seat 10. 8

Specificationfinal 2016256730 09 Nov 2016

As is shown in Figures 7E and 7F, engagement members 25 are also provided on the substantially upright portion 15, 32 of the base unit 14, 30. These engagement members 25 act to engage with the shell 13 of the carry cot 12 to further support the cany cot 12 in the desired mode of use. 5 It will be appreciated that the child safety seat of the present invention provides a system whereby a carry cot can be removably mounted to a base unit in a simple and effective manner. The base unit can be secured by way of a tether arrangement to a vehicle anchorage point in a manner that doesn’t impede access of the carry cot to the base unit. As such, there is no requirement to adjust the tether arrangement prior to or io following placement of the carry cot on the base unit, as is typically the case with existing devices.

Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its 15 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 contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations 20 may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, 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 instrument will usually be 25 considered in a particular orientation, typically with the child safety seat uppermost. 9

Claims

The Claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. A rearward facing child safety seat for a vehicle comprising: a base unit configured to be positioned on a vehicle seat, the base unit having a substantially vertical portion and a substantial horizontal portion; a tether connectable to the substantially vertical portion and configured to extend therefrom to a vehicle anchorage point; and an untethered carry cot removeably receivable within the base unit, wherein the carry cot is configured to lockably engage the horizontal portion of the base unit.
2. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein the carry cot is configured to lockably engage the vertical portion of the base unit.
3. The child safety seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base unit includes a pair of raised walls extending laterally along opposing sides thereof to define an internal portion thereof into which the carry cot is received.
4. The child safety seat according to claim 3, wherein each raised wall includes a pair of apertures defining a path for a seat belt of the vehicle to facilitate securement of the base unit to the seat of the vehicle.
5. The child safety seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base unit includes one or more engagement members for locking the carry cot in position against the base.
6. The child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein the carry cot includes one or more recesses configured to receive the one or more engagement members.
7. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the carry cot is rotationally movable with respect to the base about a central axis.
8. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the carry cot is tiltable with respect to the base unit to facilitate adjustment of an angle of reclination of the carry cot with respect to the base.