GB2449976A

GB2449976A - Child seat restraint safety buckle

Info

Publication number: GB2449976A
Application number: GB0810073A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin John Daykin
Original assignee: Armon Ltd
Current assignee: Armon Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2008-06-03
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Also published as: GB0710982D0; GB0810073D0; WO2008148752A2; WO2008148752A3

Abstract

A buckle assembly for a five strap child restraint system has a housing 20 which releasably retains two unitary side fasteners 50, each having a waist strap attachment 56 and a hooked arm 65 defining a normally closed slot 63 through which the corresponding shoulder strap 12 is looped. The shoulder strap is normally retained in the slot by an obstruction, comprising the distal end of the arm and/or a protuberance, but can be slipped out of the slot past the obstruction when the buckle is released. When the buckle is fastened, the housing mechanically supports the arm and retains the shoulder strap in the slot. The side fasteners may be releasable only by simultaneous depression of two opposed buttons 81,81', the front button being recessed into an interchangeable frame 92.

Description

Child safety buckle This invention relates to safety buckles for

restraining small children, particularly in a seated position such as in a pushchair or the like.

Small children may be effectively restrained in a seated position by means of five straps which pass respectively over the shoulders, around the waist and between the legs at the crotch and which are fastened together at a common buckle assembly (often referred to as a five point buckle) located near the child's navel.

This provides a secure restraint which is convenient for an adult carer to operate.

One such buckle assembly is disclosed by US 7 117 568, and comprises a central housing having a release catch and providing an aperture through which is looped the crotch strap; a pair of waist strap fasteners which clip into the sides of the housing, each providing an aperture through which is looped a respective one of the waist straps; and two shoulder strap fasteners, each providing an aperture through which is looped a respective one of the shoulder straps. Each of the shoulder strap fasteners is slidingly engaged with a retaining formation on the top of the respective waist strap fastener, before the waist strap fastener is inserted into the housing. Once in the housing, the shoulder strap fasteners are retained in position by abutment with the housing so that the waist strap fasteners must be released by depression of the release catch before they can be separated from the shoulder strap fasteners.

US 6 049 954 and EP 1196 055 Bl similarly provide buckles comprising a housing cooperating with two waist strap fasteners and two shoulder strap fasteners, in which the four fasteners are inserted into the housing so as to secure all five straps together. The shoulder strap fasteners of US 954 are retained in the housing by abutment with the waist strap fasteners so that disassembly may be accomplished by means of a single button which releases the waist strap fasteners from the housing.

Such arrangements advantageously allow the five straps to be separated, but are relatively complex and can prove fiddly in use since there are five separate components which must be engaged together. Making new moulds for such complex interlocking moulded plastics parts is also very expensive.

GB 2 368 369 A discloses a five point buckle comprising a housing which receives the crotch strap, and two waist strap fasteners which are releas ably attached to the housing. Ring portions extending respectively from the housing and from each waist strap fastener cooperate to define two D-rings when the waist strap fasteners are attached to the housing, the shoulder straps being coupled to the D-rings by means of hooks. The five straps are immediately separated when the buckle is released, and must be re-attached one by one.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a buckle assembly suitable for use in a five strap restraint system which is secure but convenient to use and manufacture.

Accordingly in its various aspects the present invention provides buckle assemblies as defmed in the claims.

In a preferred embodiment the novel buckle assembly advantageously provides only two side fasteners which are releasably attached to the housing; this reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies operation, and by reducing the number of cooperating parts, allows the locking mechanism to be more substantial and improves strength and reliability. At the same time, the five straps may be separated by the adult carer if desired, or alternatively may be left in a default configuration in which each shoulder strap is retained to its corresponding waist strap, which makes it quick and easy to replace the child in the pushchair or the like.

A preferred embodiment will now be described, purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first buckle assembly in use; Fig. 2 is an exploded front view of the first buckle assembly; Fig. 3 is an exploded rear view of the first buckle assembly; and Figs. 4A -4C show one of the side fasteners of the first buckle assembly detached from the housing, respectively with the shoulder strap in place (Fig. 4A), during removal of the shoulder strap (Fig. 4B), and in an enlarged view with the shoulder strap removed (Fig. 4C).

Referring to the Figures, a first buckle assembly comprises a unitary moulded plastics housing 20 which is adapted to receive first and second side fasteners 50.

The housing 20 has a crotch strap attachment 21 to which the crotch strap 10 is adjustably attached, so that the housing is retained to the pushchair or other apparatus by the crotch strap at all times during normal use.

The central body 22 of the housing is provided at its two sides 23 with two oppositely directed apertures 24, and has a central bore 25 normal to the apertures which intersects the apertures and terminates at the front wall 26 of the housing in an annular recess 27. Each of the apertures 24 has a pair of raised ramps defining opposed, inwardly converging ramped surfaces 30 with parallel edges extending in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the apertures 24, each surface 30 terminating at its inner end in an abutment surface 31 normal to the longitudinal axis of the apertures 24.

Each side fastener 50 comprises a unitary plastics moulding, made from acetal or other suitable, resilient plastics material as known in the art, which is releasably coupled to the housing 20 by means of guide rails 51 and parallel resilient flat tabs 52 which are slidingly received in the respective apertures 24. The tabs have rectangular holes 53 terminating at flat end portions 54 so as to define abutment surfaces 55. In use, the guide rails 51 and tabs 52 are inserted into the housing so that the end portions 54 are urged together by progressive sliding engagement with the converging ramped surfaces 30. When the end portions 54 pass into the central bore 25 beyond the abutment surfaces 31, the tabs 52 resile outwardly so that the ramps are received in the holes 53, bringing the abutment surfaces 31 and into abutment so as to retain the side fastener in the housing.

A release mechanism is provided for releasing the side fasteners from the housing, comprising a pair of independently depressible catches 80, 80' having outer surfaces formed as round buttons 81, 81' arranged in opposed relationship and recessed into opposite front and rear walls of the housing 20. Each catch is slidably retained in the central bore 25 of the housing by resilient clips 82, which also engage the sides of the apertures 24 so as to prevent the catch from rotating.

Each catch has a pair of abutments 85, each of which is arranged to depress the flat end portion 54 of one of the tabs 52 when the button 81, 81' is depressed by the user, so that the corresponding abutment surface 55 is urged out of engagement with the fixed abutment surface 31. Each abutment 85 also has a ramped surface 83 which engages the end of the corresponding tab 52 and urges the side fastener 50 outwardly from the housing as the abutment surfaces 55, 31 are disengaged. The catches are biased apart by a coil spring 57 arranged between a pair of telescopic guides 84, 84'.

In the embodiment shown, each of the two tabs 52 of each side fastener is depressed by only one of the two buttons 81, 81', so that if only one button 81, 81' is depressed by the user, each side fastener is still retained to the housing by one of the tabs. Both the front catch 80 and the rear catch 80' must therefore be actuated simultaneously in order to release the side fasteners from the housing. It is found that, even if a small child is able to depress the front button 81 in the front wall 26 of the housing, it is very difficult for it to depress the rear button 81' simultaneously, due in part to the small size of its hands, whereas an adult carer can depress both buttons easily by applying opposed pressure with a thumb and forefinger. This makes the restraint more secure.

The front button 81 is recessed into a frame 90, comprising a trim component which is formed separately from the body, which in turn is retained in the annular recess 27 in the body by resilient clips 91 which engage in recesses 28 in the housing. In the embodiment shown, the frame and recess are annular, although in alternative embodiments the button, frame and recess could be square for example. The frame could also be discontinuous.

Whereas it is relatively costly to make moulds for the complex interlocking plastics components of the buckle assembly, the frame 90 is a small, simple component which can be tooled and moulded at relatively low cost, but however forms a significant visual component of the finished buckle assembly which in turn forms a significant visual component of the pushchair or other article in which it is incorporated. This makes it possible to effectively alter the appearance and brand identity of the buckle assembly, even after production of the principal components, by fitting a new frame re-moulded for example in alternative colours or with alternative indicia 92' or product information moulded into or applied to its visible annular surface 92. If necessary, the frame can be produced at short notice close to the point of importation or distribution of the finished product, so that the product can be locally customised to follow changing trends in each market without sacrificing logistical efficiency. This is made easy by clipping the frame into the housing as shown, in which case it may or may not be removable.

Alternatively for example the frame could be glued into the recess 27.

Each of the side fasteners 50 includes a waist strap attachment 56, to which one of the waist straps ii is attached, which is permanently coupled (preferably by moulding in a single piece as shown in the illustrated embodiment) to a shoulder strap attachment 60 for receiving an attachment portion 12a of one respective shoulder strap 12. (The waist strap attachment and the crotch strap attachment can take any conventional form, either for fixed or adjustable attachment of the straps as required. Each strap may thus comprise a sewn loop as shown, a free end which is looped through the attachment, or any other convenient fixture.) The shoulder strap attachment 60 comprises a body portion 61 which in turn comprises a base portion 64 and an arm 65. An elongate shoulder strap aperture 62 is defined between the base portion and the arm, and a strap release opening 63, which communicates with the aperture 62 and passes through the body portion 61, is defined between a distal end 66 of the arm and the base portion 64.

The attachment portion 12a of the shoulder strap 12 is looped through the aperture 62. For simplicity and convenience, the straps are preferably formed from flat webbing as shown and the attachment portion 12a comprises a part of the strap, either a ioop at one end as shown, or any convenient portion along its length. If required, the strap may be attached to the pushchair or other equipment at both ends.

The strap release opening 63 comprises an obstruction which normally retains the attachment portion 12a of the shoulder strap 12 in the aperture 62 when the side fastener 50 is detached from the housing, as shown in Fig. 4A, but which allows the adult carer to remove the shoulder strap from the side fastener if required. By leaving the shoulder strap attached to the side fastener, the adult carer can more easily re-fasten the buckle simply by placing the child's arms through the loops formed by each shoulder strap 12 and the corresponding waist strap 11, and then S pushing the two side fasteners 50 into the housing 20.

If the adult carer wishes to remove the attachment portion 12a of the strap from the side fastener, he or she must first detach the side fastener 50 from the housing 20, and then intentionally slide the attachment portion 12a sideways past the obstruction and through the strap release opening 63, in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 4B.

Preferably, the arm 65 is moulded so that its hooked, distal end 66 normally lies in its rest position adjacent the base portion 64, so that the distal end 66 forms the obstruction. In the example shown, the side fastener is moulded from resilient acetal or similar plastics material, and the distal end of the arm is arranged in the rest position to lie in contact with or nearly in contact with the base portion 64 as shown in particular in Fig. 4C. The strap release opening 63 is thus narrower than the thickness of the strap 12. In order to slide the strap through the strap release opening 63, the user must first detach the side fastener 50 from the housing, and then resiliently deform the arm by pulling on the shoulder strap so as to open up the strap release opening, urging the distal end 66 away from the base portion 64.

The arm springs back to the rest position once it is released by the user. The strap 12 is re-attached by reversing the procedure, and the arm may be provided with a ramped surface or lead-in to assist in returning the strap through the strap release opening.

Alternatively or additionally, a protuberance 69 is arranged to extend from the base portion 64 towards the arm 65, the protuberance forming an obstruction which normally retains the attachment portion 12a in the aperture 62. In the example shown, the protuberance is formed as a small rib which lies adjacent the distal end of the arm so that the strap release opening 63 defines a sinuous passage between the two obstructions 66, 69.

In alternative embodiments, the side fastener may comprise a substantially rigid arm, with its distal end hooked as shown or otherwise shaped to form an obstruction defining a narrow or sinuous strap release opening which normally retains the shoulder strap in the aperture.

The arm 65 is thus attached to the base portion 64 only at its proximal end 68. In order to prevent damage to the arm while the assembly is in use, the housing 20 is extended to enclose the distal end 66 of the arm, forming an arm restraint abutment 29 which restrains and supports the distal end of the arm to resist pulling forces from the shoulder strap 12 when the side fastener is coupled to the housing.

Preferably, when the side fastener 50 is coupled to the housing, the housing 20 also blocks the strap release opening 63 as shown in Fig. 1 so that the shoulder strap 12 abuts the housing and cannot be slid out through the strap release opening until the side fastener is detached from the housing.

In an alternative embodiment, each side fastener comprises a conventional attachment for the shoulder strap, similar for example to the waist strap attachment 56, and an aperture and strap release opening to receive an attachment portion of the waist strap. The housing is adapted accordingly to provide an obstruction to retain the waist strap unless it is intentionally released by the user, and to support the arm around which it is looped when the buckle is closed. It is also possible of course to provide an aperture and a strap release opening for any or all of the waist strap, the shoulder strap and even the crotch strap, but this is less preferred since the side fastener may then become detached from both straps and mislaid. In alternative embodiments, each attachment portion may comprise a D-ring or 0-ring, a snap hook, or any other element attached to the strap which can be slid through the strap release opening 63, and the aperture 62 and strap release opening 63 are adapted to suit.

In yet further embodiments, the side fastener need not comprise an arm, and only one obstruction may be provided, which may be a protuberance or any other suitable structure for preventing the strap from passing through the strap release opening until it is intentionally slid out of the aperture by the user.

Many adaptations may be made within the scope of the claims. For example, rather than releasably engaging abutment surfaces on the housing, the side fasteners might alternatively be arranged to engage the release mechanism, such as by providing abutments on the depressible catches which are disengaged from corresponding abutments on the side fasteners by depression of the catch. Only one catch might be provided instead of two, and where two catches are provided, the side fasteners may be releasable by depression of only one of the catches. The catches need not be provided on the housing and need not be depressible; for example, a resilient arm could be incorporated in each of the side fasteners so that it is moveable by the user to disengage corresponding abutment surfaces on the side fastener and the housing.

In an alternative embodiment, the novel double catch mechanism may provide additional security to a conventional buckle assembly having attachments for only three or more straps, one fastened to the housing and at least one to each of the side fasteners. Alternatively, four side fasteners may be provided in a known configuration, each for a separate strap. The side fasteners are retained in the housing by a pair of independently moveable catches, such as the depressible buttons of the first embodiment, so that both of the catches must be actuated in order to release the side fasteners from the housing.

In a yet further embodiment, the novel annular trim component may be applied to a conventional buckle assembly having attachments for only three or more straps, or alternatively having four separate side fasteners, releasable by a single depressible button or alternatively by the novel double button arrangement, so that the buckle may be easily and cheaply customised for different applications.

In summary, a preferred buckle assembly for a five strap child restraint system has a housing which releasably retains two unitary side fasteners, each having a waist strap attachment and a hooked arm defining a normally closed slot through which the corresponding shoulder strap is looped. The shoulder strap is normally retained in the slot by an obstruction, comprising the distal end of the arm and/or a protuberance, but can be slipped out of the slot past the obstruction when the buckle is released. When the buckle is fastened, the housing mechanically supports the arm and retains the shoulder strap in the slot. The side fasteners may be releasable only by simultaneous depression of two opposed buttons, the front button being recessed into an interchangeable frame.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly for use with a five strap child restraint system comprising two shoulder straps, two waist straps, and a crotch strap; the assembly including a housing and first and second side fasteners which are releasably coupled to the housing; each side fastener including a waist strap attachment for receiving an attachment portion of one respective waist strap, the waist strap attachment being permanently coupled to a shoulder strap attachment for receiving an attachment portion of one respective shoulder strap; characterised in that at least one of the shoulder strap attachment and the waist strap attachment comprises a body portion defining an aperture for receiving the respective attachment portion, and a strap release opening communicating with the aperture and passing through the body portion, the strap release opening comprising an obstruction which normally retains the respective attachment portion in the aperture when the respective side fastener is detached from the housing, such that the attachment portion may be removed from the side fastener when the side fastener is detached from the housing by sliding the attachment portion past the obstruction through the strap release opening.

2. A buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that, when the side fastener is coupled to the housing, the strap release opening is blocked by the housing such that the attachment portion cannot be slid through the strap release opening.

3. A buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the body portion includes a base portion and an arm, the strap release opening being defined between a distal end of the arm and the base portion; and the housing includes an arm restraint abutment, the arm restraint abutment restraining the distal end of the arm when the side fastener is coupled to the housing.

4. A buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the body portion includes a base portion and an arm, the strap release opening being defined between a distal end of the arm and the base portion; and the obstruction comprises the distal end of the arm, wherein the distal end of the arm normally lies adjacent the base portion when the respective side fastener is detached from the housing.

5. A buckle assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the arm is resiliently deformable by a user so as to urge the distal end of the arm away from the base portion when the respective side fastener is detached from the housing.

6. A buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the body portion includes a base portion and an arm, the strap release opening being defined between a distal end of the arm and the base portion; and the obstruction comprises a protuberance extending from the base portion towards the arm.

7. A buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that a release mechanism is provided for releasing the side fasteners from the housing, the release mechanism comprising a pair of independently moveable catches, the catches being so arranged that both catches must be actuated in order to release either of the side fasteners from the housing.

8. A buckle assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the catches comprise a pair of depressible buttons arranged in opposed relationship on opposite faces of the housing.

9. A buckle assembly for use with a child restraint system comprising at least three straps; the assembly including a housing, at least two side fasteners which are releasably coupled to the housing, and a release mechanism for releasing the side fasteners from the housing; the housing being coupled to a first one of the straps, each side fastener being coupled to at least a further one of the straps; the release mechanism comprising a pair of independently moveable catches, the catches being so arranged that both catches must be actuated in order to release either of the side fasteners from the housing.

10. A buckle assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the catches comprise a pair of depressible buttons arranged in opposed relationship on opposite faces of the housing.

11. A buckle assembly for use with a child restraint system comprising at least three straps; the assembly including a housing, at least two side fasteners which are releasably coupled to the housing, and a release mechanism for releasing the side fasteners from the housing; the housing being coupled to a first one of the straps, each side fastener being coupled to at least a further one of the straps; the release mechanism including a depressible button arranged at a front wall of the housing; characterised in that the button is arranged within a frame, and the frame is formed separately from the body.

12. A buckle assembly according to claim Ii, characterised in that the frame is resiliently clipped to the body.

13. A buckle assembly substantially as described and illustrated.