GB2403138A - Child safety vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a child safety seat for use with a vehicle seat. The child safety seat comprises a base 229 arranged for secure fitting to a vehicle seat; a child seat 204 arranged for secure placement of a child therein; and a mounting for mounting the child seat 204 to the base 229. The mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat 204 relative to the base 229 from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat 204 relative to the base 229 to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat 204. There is also provided a base 229, child seat 204 and mounting for use in child safety seat as separate components or as a kit of parts.

Description

2403 1 38 Child safety seat

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a safety seat for a child of the kind that is securable to the seat of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a child safety seat that is readily manoeuvrable to enable ready placement of the child in the secured seat and subsequent removal there from.

Background to the Invention

Child safety seats for use with vehicles are well known in the prior art. Such seats are typically designed to be mountable to the front or rear seat of a vehicle and to provide a safe and secure carriage environment for the child. At minimum, the seat enables the child to be securely fastened to the seat such that in the event of an emergency stop or vehicle accident the child remains securely in the safety seat, which itself remains securely mounted to the vehicle seat.

It is desirable that the child safety seat is configured to allow movement of the seat from an upright seated position to one or more reclined positions, thereby enabling accommodation of the child in both 'alert and awake' and 'tired and sleepy' states.

It is also desirable that the child safety seat enables ready and convenient placement and removal of the child therein. The Applicants have now found that it is advantageous if the child safety seat is mountable to the vehicle seat such that it t ' may be reversibly rotated towards an open vehicle door. To place the child in the seat, the vehicle door is thus opened and the child seat rotated by typically about 90 towards the vehicle door to a 'loading configuration' in which the seat faces the open door. The child is then securely stowed in the child safety seat, which is then rotated back to its normal 'travel configuration', in which the child seat generally faces the direction of travel of the vehicle.

A problem is encountered in providing a child safety seat that is securable to the vehicle seat such that it is both reclinable and rotatable relative thereto. The problem arises not only because the two desired movements can potentially conflict in a mechanical sense but also because the child seat must provide such flexibility of movement whilst not comprising its safety function, which requires both secure mounting to the vehicle seat and safe containment of the child. The child safety seat must be robust enough to withstand impact in the event of a collision and the daily wear and tear associated with regular use by an energetic child.

Further problems can arise in providing such flexibility of movement within a child safety seat design that provides simplicity of operation for the parent who faces the challenge of interacting with the seat whilst also struggling with a wriggling and occasionally, grumpy child. One-handed operation of the seat is preferable, the other hand therefore remaining available for the holding of the child.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a child safety seat that is both rotatable and reclinable relative to a vehicle seat to which it is securely mountable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a child safety seat that provides both simplicity of operation for the parental user and comfort and safety for the child.

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Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety seat for use with a vehicle seat comprising a base arranged for secure fitting to said vehicle seat; a child seat arranged for secure placement of a child therein; and a mounting for mounting said child seat to said base, wherein said mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

The invention provides a child safety seat for use with a vehicle seat. The child safety seat is designed to provide a safe and secure carriage environment for the child. In particular, the child safety seat is designed such that in the event of an emergency stop or vehicle accident the child remains safe and secure in the safety seat, which itself remains securely mounted to the vehicle seat.

The child safety seat comprises a base that is arranged for secure fitting to a vehicle seat. The vehicle may for example, be a car, van, lorry, bus or coach but is most usually a car. The vehicle seat may be either a front or rear seat and has known seat form. The base of the child seat is itself sized and shaped to marry up, or at least to be readily receivable by the vehicle seat. Secure fitting of the base to the vehicle seat is by any suitable secure fitting means, which may be provided to the vehicle seat or base or more typically, to both. Such secure fitting means may comprise any suitable belts and fastening means including buckles and snap-fit fastenings such as ISOFIT (trade name) or L.l.F.T. (trade name) fastenings.

Whilst it is desirable that the base is readily securable to the vehicle seat, ease of fitting and removal is less important than the security of fitting to the vehicle seat. In a typical usage mode the base is securely fitted to the vehicle seat and remains so fitted during the lifetime of use of the child seat product rather than being fitted and removed regularly.

The base is also arranged for receipt of the mounting and child seat described in more detail hereinafter. In one aspect, the base is provided with a furrow or basin therein (e.g. cut-away form) sized and shaped for ready receipt of the seat base.

The child seat also comprises a child seat that is arranged for secure placement of a child therein. The shape and form of the child seat is generally conventional and typically comprises a seat base for support of the child's bottom and thighs and a seat back for support of the child's back. Wings are suitably provided to the seat base and seat back, the former functioning as arm rests for the child and the latter functioning to reduce freedom of child head / shoulder movement but principally to provide additional protective function (e.g. for the child's head) in the event of (e.g. a side impact) vehicle collision.

There is also provided a mounting for mounting the child seat to the base. In one aspect, the mounting readily enables reversible mounting / demounting of the child seat from the base, although this is not always required.

As background, it is noted that child safety seats are generally of two types. The first type is often referred to in the industry as a 'first stage' seat and is designed for safe carriage of a child of up to about nine months with a weight of less than 9kg. The usage mode for such 'first stage' seats is typically that the child seat functions as both a safety seat and a 'carry cot' with the child remaining stowed therein as the child seat is placed in and removed from the vehicle. A 'first stage' child seat must thus, be reversibly removable from the base (which remains fitted to the vehicle).

The second type is often referred to in the industry as a 'second stage' seat and is designed for safe carriage of a child from about nine months to four year with a weight of from about 9kg to 18kg. The usage mode for such 'second stage' seats is typically that the child seat functions just as a vehicle safety seat and remains in the vehicle with the child being placed in and removed from the seat which remains in situ in the vehicle. A second stage' child seat need not thus, be reversibly removable from the base (which remains fitted to the vehicle).

The child safety seat described herein is preferably, a 'second stage' seat. The problems it addresses are more applicable to the older, larger, more active 'second stage' child than to those encountered for seat designed for younger children.

In accord with the present invention, the mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat. The reversible lateral and rotational movement are preferably independent of each other (i.e. each may be enabled independent of the other).

The reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base is base from an initial, generally child-sitting position to one or more (e. g. from one to six) reclined positions. Thus, the lateral movement is typically a backwards-forwards movement relative to a normal sitting direction as would be defined by the configuration of the child seat, and is generally either a 'child faces forward to direction defined by vehicle seat' or less typically, but not inconceivably, 'child faces backward to direction defined by vehicle seat'. Typically, the base remains static relative to the seat, to which it is securely fitted and the child seat moves relative thereto both the base and vehicle seat.

The reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base is from a first position, in which the child seat is non-rotated (i.e. 0 rotation) relative to the rat-- 6 my normal sitting direction to a loading position, in which the child seat is rotated (i.e. > 0 rotation) to a position that enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

The rotation may be in a clockwise or anti-clockwise sense so that the vehicle seat may be rotated to either vehicle door opening. Suitably, in the loading position the child seat is rotated such that it faces, or nearly does so, the vehicle door thereby corresponding to a 90 rotation relative to the normal sitting direction. In one aspect, the maximum degree of rotation corresponds to a 90 rotation relative to the normal sitting direction. Suitably, the bottom part of the seat (i.e. the seat pan) also remains in close relationship to the base (e.g. in a horizontal configuration, in use) during rotation thereof.

The Applicants have noticed that for a standard configuration of child seat rotational movement of the child seat can be more straightforward when the child seat is in the non-reclined (i.e. initial position). In one preferred aspect therefore, the mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base from said initial position to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

Alternatively, the Applicants have noticed that for a standard configuration of child seat rotational movement of the child seat is more straightforward when the child seat is spaced (e.g. lifted upwards) from the base relative to its normal usage positioning. In another preferred aspect therefore, the mounting provides for each of reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions; reversible spacing movement of the child seat relative to the base from said initial position to a spaced position; and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base from said spaced position to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

It will be appreciated that the child safety seat herein is designed for use in essentially two modes, namely a 'travel mode' in which the child is secured in the child seat and a 'loading / unloading' mode in which the child is being placed into / removed from the child seat. In general terms, in the 'travel mode' the enabling of lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base is desirable whereas rotational movement thereof is either not desirable or entirely undesirable. Again in general terms, in the 'loading / unloading mode' the enabling of lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base is either not very desirable or entirely undesirable whereas rotational movement thereof is desirable.

It will also be appreciated that whilst user (i.e. parent or guardian) controlled lateral, rotational or in aspects, spacing movement of the child seat relative to the base is desirable as described herein, in the travel mode, particularly when the vehicle is moving it is essential that the child safety seat does not uncontrollably move about.

Reversible locking and / or control mechanisms are therefore typically provided to control the various movements such that movement is enabled when desired but otherwise the child seat is locked in a particular position / configuration, which may be an intermediate position / configuration. Locking is certainly desirable during travel (i.e. when the vehicle is moving). Such locks and /or controls may therefore comprise lateral movement lock and / or control mechanisms, rotational movement lock and / or control mechanisms and in aspects, spacing movement lock and / or control mechanisms.

Preferably, the child safety seat is configured such that in the 'travel mode' in respect of the mounting, the lateral movement is locked into either the initial position or / any reclined position; the rotational movement is locked into the non-rotated (i.e. 0 rotation) position; and any spacing movement is locked into the non-spaced position.

It will be appreciated that the base, child seat and mounting for the child safety seat herein may be manufactured and supplied separately and /or supplied as a kit of parts. The present invention encompasses all of these separate component parts.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a child seat for use with the child safety seat herein.

In particular, there is provided a child seat for use with a base arranged for secure fitting to a vehicle seat to form a child safety seat for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising a child seat arranged for secure placement of a child therein; and a mounting for mounting said child seat to said base, wherein said mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a base for use with the child safety seat herein.

In particular, there is provided a base for use with a child seat arranged for secure placement of a child therein to form a child safety seat for use in a vehicle, the base comprising a base arranged for secure fitting to a vehicle seat; and a mounting for mounting said base to said child seat, wherein said mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mounting for use with the child safety seat herein.

In particular, there is provided a mounting for use in a child safety seat comprising a base arranged for secure fitting to a vehicle seat and a child seat arranged for secure placement of a child therein, said mounting comprising a mounting for mounting said child seat to said base, wherein said mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a first child safety seat in accord with one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a detail of the child seat of Figure 1; Figure 3a shows a perspective view and Figure 3b an exploded perspective view of a second child safety seat in accord with one aspect of the present invention; :l'- . ' a' 1 n I Figures 4a to 4d show in perspective view details of the recline mechanism of the second child safety seat of Figures 3a and 3b; Figures 5a and 5b show in perspective view the rotary mechanism of the second child safety seat of Figures 3a and 3b; Figures 6a and 6b show in perspective view one aspect of a guide mechanism used with the rotary mechanism of the second child safety seat of Figures 3a and 3b; Figures 7a and 7b show in perspective view one aspect of another guide mechanism used with the rotary mechanism of the second child safety seat of Figures 3a and 3b; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a third child safety seat in accord with one aspect of the present invention; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a sub-assembly minus the child seat part of the third child safety seat of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a perspective, exploded view of the third child safety seat of Figure 8; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a first part of the sub-assembly of Figure 9; Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a second part of the sub-assembly of Figure 9; Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a third part of the sub- assembly of Figure 9; Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a first child safety seat herein whose general arrangement is as follows: Bolt 1 sits in cup 2, which passes through retainer slot 8 of slidable plate 9 after the plate 9 is fitted into bracketed slot 6 of seat 4. It will be appreciated that the so-fitted plate 9 is slidably movable within the bracketed slot 6. Retainer slot 8 of plate 6 determines the distance plate 9 can move back and forth within bracketed slot 6. Bolt 1 protrudes through cup 2 and passes through hole 5 provided to the base of the seat 4. Bolt 1 functions as the pivot about which seat 4 is rotatable about turntable 30. Washer 15 and nut 16 in turn, secure bolt 1 and hence seat 4 to the turntable 30.

Lug 11 on the underside of plate 9 fits into recess 12 provided to the turntable 30.

The end of spring 17 fits into hole 18 of reclining lever 19. It will be seen that the reclining lever itself, fits between bosses 27 (only one clearly visible) protruding from the bottom of the turntable 30. The reclining lever is fixed in place by horizontal pin 24, which slides through holes provided to bosses 27 and holes 25a, 25b in reclining lever 19. Pin 24 acts as a pivot for the reclining lever 19. The top of spring 17 fits into a recess (not visible) oppositely located to hole 18 on the underside part of turntable 30.

Side plates 21a, 21b fit to the inner walls of seat base 29 such that slots 20a, 20b of the respective side plates 21a, 21b line up with corresponding slots 57a, 57b of the seat base 29. To secure turntable 30, seat base 29 and side plates 21a, 21b to each other pin 22b is passed through slots 20a, 20b of side plates 21a, 21b, slots 57a, 57b of the seat base 29 and hole 28a of the turntable 30, and pin 22a is also passed through slots 23a, 23b of side plates 21a, 21b, slots 58a, 58b of the seat base and then hole 28b of the turntable 30. Bar 26, which forms part of reclining lever 19 pushes up into slatted slots 23a, 23b of respective side plates 21a, 21b by the action of spring 17, thereby locking the turntable part 30 and seat 4 in position in relation to base 29. The four slats provided in slatted slots 23a, 23b correspond to four positions of recline.

The upper release mechanism part of the child safety seat of Figure 1 will now be described with further reference to Figure 2, which shows this aspect in more detail.

Lower bracket 31 passes through rear slot 3 of seat 4 and connects to slidable plate 9 by pin 33, which passes through hole 32 in bracket 31 and also hole 7 in the slidable plate 9. Lower bracket 31 attaches to the bottom end of cable 59, which is sheathed much like a bicycle brake cable. The sheath is received in a slot (not visible) in the rear of seat 4. The top end of the cable 59 attaches to upper bracket 37, which forms part of a butterfly release mechanism now described in more detail.

Lower end of coupling 52 passes through slot 45 of the seat and attaches to upper bracket 37 by pin 38 passing through hole 36 in upper bracket 37 and hole 51 in coupling 52. Coupling 52 is movable up and down in guide 44 comprising a slot formed in seat 4 and is fixed to the seat 4 by pin 46, which passes through slot 43 in the base of guide 44 and into hole 53 of coupling 52. Pin 46 also secures the lower end of spring 54 to coupling 52. The upper end of spring 54 attaches to boss 42, which forms part of seat 4. Butterfly wings 47a, 47b mount on respective bosses 41, 41 b, which also form part of seat 4. Butterfly wings 47a, 47b are secured in place by pins 49a, 49b passing through holes 55a, 55b of the respective wings 47a, 47b and into bosses 41a, 41b. The ends of pins 48a, 48b protrude from wings 47a, 47b and pass through slots 40a, 40b of the seat 4 and fit into the open ends 35a, 35b of runners 34a, 34b in base 29, thereby slidably securing the top part of the seat 4 to the base 29. Ushaped part 50 attaches to wings 47a, 47b by pins 49a, 49b passing through holes 56a, 56b in U-shaped part 50. Protrusion 39 serves to prevent seat 4 and base 29 from moving in relation to one another when the seat 4 is in its most upright position. This ensures that the ends of pins 48a, 48b remain fully engaged in runners 34a, 34b, thereby preventing rotation of the seat 4 relative to the base 29 in the absence of a user-controlled rotational movement.

The recline operation of the child seat 4 relative to the base 29 is now described.

The user first pulls up front end 60 of the reclining lever 19 causing spring 17 to be compressed and bar 26 at the rear of the reclining lever 19 to become disengaged from a particular slat in slatted slots 23a, 23b of side plates 21a, 21b. The user then either pulls or pushes the reclining lever 19 to respectively recline or make upright the seat 4. The seat 4 and turntable 30 remain fixed to the base 29 by pins 22a, 22b moving back and forth in slots 20a, 20b and 23a, 23b respectively and pins 48a, 48b moving back and forth in slots 34a, 34b respectively. As shown, there are four degrees of recline although in variations, this number may be varied by suitable modification of slatted slots 23a, 23b to include fewer or more slats.

The rotational movement of the seat 4 relative to the base 29 is now described. The seat 4 must first be returned to its most upright (i.e. non-reclined) position by the action of a user. Spring 54 tensions the butterfly wing release mechanism. User pulling of handle to of the slidable plate 9 causes that plate 9 to slide forwards in bracketed slot 6 causing lug 11 to disengage from recess 12 of turntable 30.

Simultaneously, cable 59 pulls coupling 52 downwards and this frees wings 47a, 47b from a locked configuration by removing the top of coupling 52 from between wings 47a, 47b. Coupling 52 then contacts part U-shaped part 50, which is thereby pulled downwards causing parts 47a, 47b to pivot on bosses 41a, 41b. Wings 47a, 47b, U- shaped part 50 and coupling 52 can now all move freely in relation to one another acting as an articulated linkage. The ends of pins 48a, 48b then swing upwards teeing themselves from runners 34a, 34b in base 29 by being raised up and out of the ends 35a, 35b of the runners 34a, 34b. This sequence of events enables seat 4 to rotate independently of base 29.

The user can then rotate seat 4 by up to 90 in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise sense. Further rotational movement is prevented by the greater diameter of the rear part of turntable 30 beyond left and right side recesses 14a, 14b. Lug 11 bears against surface 13 of turntable 30 keeping pins 48a, 48b in the raised position, thereby clearing the top part of base 29. When the seat 4 has been rotated by 90 handle 10 can be released. Spring 54 then pulls on coupling 52, which in turn pulls on upper bracket 37, which in turn pulls on lower bracket 33 to pull slidable plate 9 rearwards causing lug 11 to engage in either recess 14a or 14b (depending on whether the rotation has been anti-clockwise or clockwise) in turntable 30 thereby locking the seat 4 in position.

Rotation of the seat 4 back to its original position essentially involves similar steps to those described above. Dis-engagement of the locking mechanism similarly occurs as a result of the user pulling handle To of the slidable plate 9 to cause plate 9 to slide forwards in bracketed slot 6 and lug 11 to disengage from recess 14a (or 14b depending on whether the earlier rotation had been clockwise or anti-clockwise) of turntable 30. Simultaneous action of cable 59 also releases the butterfly wing mechanism to dis-engage the seat 4 from base 29. The seat 4 may then be counterrotated back to the original position and the handle 10 released, which results in re- engagement of the locking mechanism.

Figures 3a to 7b show different aspects of a second child safety seat herein, which provides for independent recline and rotational movement of a child seat relative to its base in accord with the present invention.

Turning now to Figures 3a and 3b, which shows a child safety seat in perspective and exploded views, the child safety seat may be seen to comprise a seat 104 and a base 129. The seat 104 has a seat base 170 for receiving the child's bottom and thighs, a seat back 172 and lower 174a, 174b and upper 175a, 175b pairs of wings, which provide protection in the case of vehicle accident. The base 129 has a basin- shaped recess 180 shaped for receipt of the seat base 170 and provided with left and right side plates 121a (only one visible) each provided with a notched runner 123a. The inner wall of the back 182 of the base 129 is provided with a complex track layout 183, the function of which will be described hereinafter. Connecting the seat 104 and base 129 there may be seen to be a mechanism principally comprising recline lever 119 with activating handle 160 and H-shaped plate 130.

The interaction of the H-shaped plate 130, recline lever 119 and side plates 121a, 121b may be better understood by reference to Figures 4a to 4d. Each side plate 121a, 121b may be seen to be provided with a runner 123a, 123b that receives respective pivot pin 126a, 126b and follower pin 122a, 122b located on either side of the recline lever 119. The upper part of each runner 123a, 123b may also be seen to be provided with equidistantly spaced upper notches 120a, 120b, 120c, each shaped to receive follower pin 122a, 122b at a defined notch position. Recline lever 119 is fixed to H-shaped plate 130 by locking pin 101. It may therefore be appreciated that by user upward action on handle 160 the lever 119 may be pivoted about pivot pin 126a, 126b and then released from any particular notch 120a, 120b, 120c position such that the lever 119 and H-shaped plate 130 carried thereby may travel along runner 123a,123b to another notch 120a, 120b, 120c position into which it is locked by user upward action on handle 160. In essence, this constitutes the recline mechanism for moving the seat 104 relative to its base 129.

In more detail and again referring mainly to Figures 4b to 4d, to activate the seat recline motion the handle 160 is pushed upwards by user action. Recline lever 119 pivots on pivot pins 126a 126b that are slidable along runners 123a, 123b within side plates 121 a, 121 b. As the lever 119 is pushed down, follower pins 122a, 122b at the end of recline lever 119 disengage from their present notch position 120a (as shown in Figure 4b). Once so disengaged the lever 119 and 'H'-plate 130 are able to move in a sliding sense along the runners 123a, 123b. The assembly of H-shaped plate and recline lever 119 is attached to the seat 104 and so the recliningmovement of seat 104 relative to base 129 is achieved.

The rotational capability of the second child safety seat is primarily governed by the relationship of the H-plate 130 to the underside of the seat 104, but the extent of rotation is also guided by the relationship of guide features of the seat 104 with those of the base 129, as now described in more detail with reference to Figures 5a to 7b.

Turning first to Figures 5a and 5b, the underside 171 of the seat 104 may be seen to be provided with a protruding spindle 102 shaped for receipt by cylindrical recess provided to the H-shaped plate 130. The spindle 102 is provided with oppositely- located tracking pins 185a, 185b each receivable by an oppositely- locating S-shaped groove 187a (one only visible in Figure 5a) provided to the inner surface of the cylindrical recess 105 in the H-shaped plate. When spindle 102 is inserted into the cylindrical recess 105, each pin 185a, 185b is received by and runs along its respective S-shaped groove 187a on the inner surface of the cylindrical recess 105.

It may thus, be appreciated that the effect of the pins 185a, 185a tracking the S- shaped grooves 187a is that the spacing of the seat 104 from the H-shaped plate varies as spindle 102 rotates within the cylindrical recess 105. In particular, as the seat 104 is rotated away from the normal 'facing forward' seat position the seat 104 moves away from the H-shaped plate 130. This spacing function enables the seat 104 to be rotated freely without undesirably hitting obstructing parts of the base 129 and runners 129a, 129b. The S-shaped grooves 187a are shaped to allow the seat 104 to rotate up to 90 with respect to the H-shaped plate 130 and base 129 attached thereto. The spindle 102 is further provided with recess 116 shaped to receive locking pin 101 of recline lever 119 which protrudes into the central void of H-shaped plate 130, and whose locking function will be described in more detail later.

The underside 171 of the seat 104 may also be seen to be provided with guide legs 190a, 190b, which protrude there from. The interaction of these guide legs 190a, 190b with the H-shaped plate 130 and side plates 121a, 121b may be understood by making reference to Figures 6a and fib.

In the non-rotated state as shown in Figure 6a, each guide leg 190a, 190b may be seen to dock within retaining groove 191 b (oppositely-located groove 191 a not visible) provided to respective side plate 121a, 121b. When the seat 104 is rotated the guide legs 190a, 190b move out of their docking relationship as shown in Figure fib.

The rear side 171 of seat 104 is also fixed to the inner back 182 part of the base 129 for extra safety and restriction by a heavy-duty pin and groove joint as shown in more detail in Figures 7a and 7b.

Referring to Figures 7a and 7b, the rear 171 of seat 104 is provided with major pin 178. The major pin 178 is received within complex grooved track 183 provided within the inner back wall 181 of the base 129. It will be appreciated that the major pin 178 is restricted to movement within the grooved track 183 and cannot be pulled out due to the shape of its head. As the seat 104 rotates and rises (as described earlier) this major pin 178 also rotates and rises but only along its course within the groove 183 until it leaves the groove 183 at an edge opening 184 thereof. The grooved track 183 may be further seen to provide four courses that the major pin 178 can follow, each corresponding to different reclining positions of the seat 104. Thus, the second child safety seat allows rotation of the seat 104 relative to the base 129 in all four reclined positions thereof.

It is essential that rotation of the seat 104 relative to the base 129 only occur in response to user action. A locking mechanism is therefore provided, as may be understood by reference to Figures 4b and 4c and also Figures 4d and 5b.

The rotational locking mechanism is released by pushing the handle 160 of recline lever 119 down (i.e. in an opposite direction to the recline release action). The lever 119 then pivots about pivot pins 126a, 126b pushing the follower pins 122b (only one visible on Figure 4b) down into the lower notch 192b (again only one visible on Figure 4b) of its runner 123b. Simultaneously, the locking pin 101 of recline lever 119 disengages from recess 116 of the spindle 102 provided to the bottom of the seat (see Figures 4d and fib). The seat 104 may therefore now be rotated.

Thus, in operation the user first releases the rotational locking mechanism by pushing the handle 160 of recline lever 119 down, as described above. The seat 104 is then freely rotatable to a maximum of 90 to a child-loading position (e.g. with the seat 104 facing an opened car door). Once, the child is loaded into the seat 104 it is rotated back to its initial position and the rotational lock re-applied by upwards pressure on the handle 160.

In a variation of the child safety seat of Figures 3a to 7b the handle 160 is sprung- loaded such that the follower pins 122b are urged in a particular direction (e.g. upwards). Release of the recline and /or rotational locking mechanism thus, involves I an initial step of overcoming the loading of the spring. This embodiment can be engineered to provide the advantage that the handle 160 and recline lever 119 are always urged back to a particular 'locked' position, thereby assisting in one-handed operation.

Figures 8 to 13 show different aspects of a third child safety seat herein, which! provides for independent recline and rotational movement of a child seat relative to its base in accord with the present invention.

Turning now to Figures 8 and 10, which show the third child safety seat in perspective and exploded views, the child safety seat may be seen to comprise a seat 204 and a base 229. The seat 204 has a seat base 270 for receiving the child's bottom and thighs, a seat back 272 and lower 274a, 274b and upper 275a, 275b pairs of wings, which provide protection in the case of vehicle accident. The seat 204 is also provided with buckles 293, 294 for securing a child in the seat.

With particular reference to Figure 10, the child safety seat may be seen to comprise four main components: seat 204; recline module 219; base 229 and rotational plinth 230. Figure 9 shows a sub-assembly of the latter three components and Figures 11 i to 13 respectively show details of the recline module 219; base 229 and rotational plinth 230 in greater detail. I It will be appreciated from the description hereinafter, that the recline module 219 has three main functions: to act as a mounting for the seat 204; to allow secure and steady reclining of the seat 204; and to act as one half of a rotating joint which allows itself and the seat 204 attached to it to rotate as a single entity about a generally vertical axis. 19

Recline module 219 attaches to seat 204 unit by way of a slider mechanism comprising dual sets 220a (not visible), 220b and 223a, 223b (not visible) of runners located on arms 221a, 221b of the module 219. The second set of runners 223a is provided with plural notches 224a, 224b, 224c each notch corresponding to a defined position of recline. It will be appreciated that each set of runners 220b, 223a receives pins (not visible) located on the underside of the seat 204 and therefore that this arrangement enables movement of the seat 204 relative to the recline module 219 and base 229 to various defined recline positions.

The recline module 219 couples permanently to base 229 at two main points of coupling. Firstly, central spindle 202 protrudes from rotational plinth 230 and feeds through hole 205 in the base 229 and a similar hole in recline module 219 (not visible) where a capping bolt (again not visible) is applied. The capping bolt is applied in such a way that recline module 219 is rotatable about the base 229 and rotational plinth 230. Secondly, curved slide rail 278 is retainably received by curved track 283 located on the inner part of the back 273Of the base 229. In use, these two points of joining maintain the recline module 219, base 229 and rotational plinth as a defined sub-assembly (i.e. as shown in Figure 9). In particular, receipt of the curved slide rail 278 by the curved track 283 is arranged such that a degree of coupling is retained by this join even when the recline module 219 is rotated by 90 relative to the base 229 and rotational plinth 230.

Operation of the rotational mechanism as described is by handle 260, which is pulled outwards to release a locking pin (not visible) which protrudes from the recline module 219 into the base 229 and the release of which allows the recline module to rotate relative thereto. The handle and locking pin are spring-loaded such that the spring (not visible) returns the handle 260 and locking pin when the handle 260 is released. The locking pin may therefore be used to lock the recline module in either the forward facing or 90 clockwise or anti-clockwise rotated positions. 2 0

As will be appreciated from the description herein, the base 229 has three main functions: to act as the main anchor point for the whole unit to the vehicle seat; to define the angle of the backrest part of the seat 204 when received in the vehicle seat to create a suitable geometry for the rotation function to operate successfully; and to act as the second half of a rotating junction providing an area for the recline module 219 and seat 204 to rotate.

In use, the base is securely fitted to a vehicle seat by use of a two point seat belt fixing system at fixing points 297a, 297b and 298a, 298b. Metal locking plate 291 for the previously described rotation locking pin (not visible) is set in to a circular recess 280 provided to the inner part of the base 229.

The principal function of the rotational plinth 230, which sits on the vehicle seat and receives the other parts of the child safety seat, is to act as a platform which defines the angle of the seat 204 relative to the vehicle seat to create a suitable geometry for the rotation function to operate successfully. It also provides central spindle 202 which defines the axis of rotation for the recline module 219 and seat 204. The plinth 230 is also provided with nylon bearing 287, which defines a track, about which the base 299 of recline module 219 can run freely. Additionally, internal webbing is present as on all mouldings to add strength.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the third child safety seat of Figures 9 to 13 advantageously enables the seat 204 to be rotated in either direction (i.e. clockwise or anticlockwise) whilst in either the fully upright or any recline position.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereto.

The application of which this description and claims form part may be used as a basis for priority in respect of any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of features ,, 2 described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims:

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. A child safety seat for use with a vehicle seat comprising a

   base arranged for secure fitting to said vehicle seat; a child seat arranged for secure placement of a child therein; and a mounting for mounting said child seat to said base, wherein said mounting provides for both reversible lateral movement of the child seat relative to the base from an initial position to one or more reclined positions and reversible rotational movement of the child seat relative to the base to a loading position, which enables ease of placement of a child in the child seat.