GB2482604A

GB2482604A - Child safety car seat

Info

Publication number: GB2482604A
Application number: GB1113334.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Xiao-Hong Xiao
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2010-08-02
Filing date: 2011-08-02
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-02
Also published as: DE102011109120B4; GB2482604B; CN102343842A; GB201113334D0; CN102343842B; DE102011109120A1

Abstract

A child safety car seat comprises a base 102 having two guide slots and a child seat 104 with an underside provided with two protruding rails 112 adapted to mount into the guide slots. Each of the rails 112 includes multiple harness anchor slots 114,116,117, and at least one strap clamp 106 assembled with at least one of the two rails 112 adjacent to one of the harness anchor slots 116. The strap clamp 106 includes a shaft having upper and lower ends mounted across the associated harness anchor slot 116 and a clamping plate 120 pivotally connected with the shaft and having an inner surface with a plurality of lengthwise ribs. Each of the ribs includes teeth for clamping a strap portion 119 passed though the harness anchor slot 116 against a sidewall surface 112B of the rail 112. A spring is mounted around the shaft to bias the clamping plate 120 to contact against the sidewall surface 112B of the rail 112.

Description

CHILD SAFETY CAR SEAT

100011 This application claims priority of China patent application no. 201010244483.1 filed on August 2, 2010.

100021 The present invention relates to child safety car seats.

10003] Current safety legislations require the use of a child safety car seat to seat a child in a vehicle. The child safety car seat can typically include a base, a child seat installed on the base, a strap, and a strap clamp. The strap clamps may also be provided at two sides of the child seat to securely hold a seatbelt with the child seat.

The strap clamp can include a clamping plate and a torsion spring. The clamping plate can be pivotally connected with the child seat, and the torsion spring can have two ends respectively connected with the child seat and the clamping plate. The inner side of the clamping plate can be adapted to press against the seatbelt to block relative displacement of the seatbelt. The clamping plate can be rotated to unclamp the seatbelt. However, because the conventional construction of the clamping plate does not provide sufficient clamping, the seatbelt may still disengage in a case where a stronger pulling force is applied.

100041 Therefore, there is a need for a child safety car seat that can provide more effective clamping and address at least the foregoing issues.

[0005] The present application describes a child safety car seat that is provided with an improved strap clamp that can effectively hold the seatbelt of the vehicle, and is economical to fabricate.

[0006] In one embodiment, the child safety car seat comprises a base including two guide slots, a child seat having an underside provided with two protruding rails adapted to mount into the guide slots, wherein each of the rails includes a plurality of harness anchor slots, and at least one strap clamp assembled with at least one of the two rails adjacent to one of the harness anchor slots. The strap clamp includes a shaft having upper and lower ends fixedly mounted across the associated harness anchor slot, a clamping plate pivotally connected with the shaft and having an inner surface provided with a plurality of lengthwise ribs, each of the ribs including a plurality of teeth adapted to clamp a strap portion that is passed though the harness anchor slot against a sidewall surface of the rail, and a spring mounted around the shaft to bias the clamping plate to contact against the sidewall surface of the rail.

[0007] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [00081 Figure 1 is a front perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a child safety seat; [0009] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a child safety seat; 100101 Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the child safety seat in a rear facing configuration; [0011] Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of a strap clamp with the seat; [0012] Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a strap clamp; [0013] Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating a variant construction of the strap clamp; and [0014] Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating how the strap clamp tightly holds the seatbelt at a harness anchor slot of the seat.

[00151 Figures 1 and 2 are front and rear perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a child safety car seat 100. The child safety car seat 100 can include a base 102, and a child seat 104 that can be installed on the base 102 and includes two strap clamps 106 provided at left and right sides. An upper surface of the base 102 can include two parallel slots 110, and an underside of the child seat 104 can include two rails 112 having a curved profile corresponding to the slots 110. Each of the rails 112 can extend from a rear portion 1 04A of the child seat 104 to a bottom portion 1 04B of the child seat 104. When the child seat 104 is installed on the base 102, the two rails 112 can be movably placed in the two slots 110, whereby the inclination of the child seat 104 can be adjusted relative to the base 102.

[00161 Each of the rails 112 can have a generally curved shape that can protrude from the rear portion 104A of the child seat 104 to delimit left and rights sides of a recessed region 113. Each of the rails 112 can have an inner sidewall surface 11 2A adjacent to the recessed region 113, an outer sidewall surface 1 12B oriented outward, and a transverse surface 1 12C connected with the inner and outer sidewall surfaces 112A and 112B. Moreover, a portion of each rail 112 at the rear portion 104A of the child seat 104 can include a plurality of harness anchor slots 114, 116, 117 and opening 118 through which a harness, e.g., vehicle seatbelt, can be passed to hold the child seat 104 in place.

[0017] The two harness anchor slots 114 and 116 can be respectively provided in each rail 112 toward a top of the child seat 104. The harness anchor slots 114 and 116 can be formed approximately at a same height, and extend through the rail 112 from the inner sidewall surface 11 2A to the outer sidewall surface 11 2B. The harness anchor slot 114 can be opened and accessible through the transverse surface 11 2C of the rail 112 via a narrow opening 11 4A formed on the transverse surface 11 2C.

[0018] The harness anchor slot 116 is opened only through the inner sidewall surface I 12A and the outer sidewall surface 1 12B. The harness anchor slot 116 can be mounted with one strap clamp 106 operable to tightly hold a harness strap that is passed through the harness anchor slot 116 from the outer sidewall surface 11 2B to the inner sidewall surface 11 2A.

[0019] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the harness anchor slot 117 is provided in each rail 112 at a location below the harness anchor slots 114 and 116. An opening can be formed through the transverse surface 11 2C and communicate with the harness anchor slot 117, whereby the harness anchor slot 117 can be opened and accessible from the transverse surface 11 2C. Accordingly, a harness strap (such as shoulder strap of the vehicle) can be inserted into the harness anchor slot 117 in each rail 112 via the corresponding opening on the transverse surface 112C.

[0020] Each opening 118 can have an oblong shape and pass through the rail 112 from the inner sidewall surface 112A to the outer sidewall surface 112B. The opening 118 can have an upper rim region that is adjacent to the harness anchor slot 116, and a lower rim region that is located toward a lower portion of the seatback of the child seat 104. In one embodiment, the harness anchor slots 114, 116 and 117 and the opening 118 can be symmetrically constructed in the two rails 112 at the lefi and right sides of the recessed region 113.

[0021] In Figure 2, the child safety car seat 100 is shown in a position that corresponds to a forward facing placement in a vehicle (i.e., the front of the child safety car seat 100 is facing the front of the vehicle). In this configuration, a portion of a seatbelt 119 shown with phantom lines (e.g., shoulder strap of the vehicle seatbelt) can be passed through the harness anchor slot 116 of one rail 112, extend in a diagonal direction, and passed through the opening 118 of the other rail 112. The strap clamp 106 can be used to tightly hold the portion of the seatbelt 119 passing through the harness anchor slot 116 for fastening the child safety car seat 100. In turn, the waist strap portion of the seatbelt can be held in a transverse direction through lower regions I 18A of the openings 118.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the child safety seat car 100 installed in a rearward facing configuration in a vehicle (i.e., the front of the child safety car seat 100 is facing the rear of the vehicle). In this configuration, a portion of the seatbelt (i.e., the shoulder strap) can wrap around a rear of the child seat 104, and be held in a diagonal direction respectively through the harness anchor slot 114 of one rail 112 and the harness anchor slot 117 of the other rail 112 for fastening the child safety car seat 100. Moreover, the waist strap of the seatbelt can be held in a transverse direction through another set of harness anchor slots provided at the underside of. the child seat 104 (not shown).

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of the strap clamp 106 with the child seat 104, and Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the strap clamp 106. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the strap clamp 106 can include a clamping plate 120, a shaft 122 and a torsion spring 124. The clamping plate 120 can include an outer surface 120A, an inner surface 120B opposite to the outer surface I 20A, and a side contour edge I 20C connected between the outer surface 1 20A and the inner surface 120B. The outer surface 120A can include a mount pocket 126 adapted to receive the placement of the shaft 122, and a recess 128 adapted to receive one end of the torsion spring 124. The recess 128 can be provided adjacent to a lower region of the mount pocket 126. The mount pocket 126 can extend along a length of the clamping plate 120 and be opened at opposite first and second sides of the side contour edge 120C via first and second openings 130 and 132. In addition, the mount pocket 126 can also be opened on a third side adjacent to the first and second sides of the side contour edge 120C via a third opening 134. The shaft 122 can be placed in the mount pocket 126, and have upper and lower end portions 122A and 122B respectively passed through the first and second openings 130 and 132 to engage into grooves 116B formed in two opposite inner sidewalls 11 6A of the harness anchor slot 116. The clamping plate 120 can be thereby pivoted about the shaft 122.

100241 The torsion spring 124 can be wrapped around the shaft 122. A first end portion of the torsion spring 124 can extend through the third opening 134 to engage into a slit 135 formed in an inner surface of the harness anchor slot 116. A second end portion of the torsion spring 124 can be held in the recess 128.

100251 As shown in Figure 5, the inner surface 120B of the clamping plate 120 can include two protruding ribs 136 extending along a lengthwise axis of the clamping plate 120. The ribs 136 can differ from each other in width, and respectively have tapered left and right surfaces. Each of the ribs 136 can have a top formed with a plurality of spacedapart grooves 138 having a curved shape, and a plurality of protruding teeth 140 defined between the grooves 138. Because the respective widths of the two ribs 136 differ from each other, the size of the protruding teeth 140 can also differ from one rib 136 to the other. In one embodiment, the protruding teeth 140 can be disposed in parallel alignment on the two ribs 136. A bevel portion 142 can be connected with a side surface of one rib 136, and extend to the inner surface I 20B.

The bevel portion 142 can prevent the second end portion of the torsion spring 124 received in the recess 128 to generate excessive torsion force in operation.

100261 Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the strap clamp 106. In this embodiment, the protruding teeth 140 on one rib 136 can be disposed in alignment with the grooves 138 on the other rib 136, such that the protruding teeth 140 and grooves 138 are disposed according to a staggered arrangement on the two ribs 136. It will be understood that the distribution of the protruding teeth 140 and grooves 138 are not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and other arrangements are possible.

[00271 Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating how the strap clamp 106 tightly holds the portion of the seatbelt 119. As shown, the biasing action of the torsion spring 124 can urge the clamping plate 120 toward a region of the outer sidewall surface 1 12B of the rail 112, whereby the protruding teeth 140 of the clamping plate 120 can tightly press on the portion of the seatbelt 119 against the outer sidewall surface 11 2B.

An operator can rotate the clamping plate 120 about the shafi 122 to disengage the protruding teeth 140 from the portion of the seatbelt 119. When the operator releases the clamping plate 120, the torsion spring 124 can rotate the clamping plate 120 to recover the initial clamping position.

100281 The above constructions include allow the clamping plate to effectively hold the seatbelt so that it cannot easily slip relative to the seat. Moreover, the clamping plate is less subject to deformation, and the material cost during manufacture can be reduced.

100291 Realizations in accOrdance with the present invention therefore have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A child safety car seat comprising: a base including two guide slots; a child seat having an underside provided with two protruding rails adapted to mount into the guide slots, wherein each of the rails includes a plurality of harness anchor slots; and at least one strap clamp assembled with at least one of the two rails adjacent to one of the harness anchor slots, wherein the strap clamp includes: a shaft having upper and lower ends fixedly mounted across the associated harness anchor slot; a clamping plate pivotally connected with the shaft and having an inner surface provided with a plurality of lengthwise ribs, each of the ribs including a plurality of teeth adapted to clamp a strap portion that is passed though the harness anchor slot against a sidewall surface of the rail; and a spring mounted around the shaft to bias the clamping plate to contact against the sidewall surface of the rail.
2. The child safety car seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat includes a recessed region between the two rails, each of the rails having an inner sidewall surface adjacent to the recessed region, an outer sidewall surface opposite to the inner sidewall surface, and a transverse surface connected with the inner and outer sidewall surfaces.
3. The child safety car seat according to claim 2, wherein each of the two rails has three harness anchor slots that extend through the rail from the inner to outer sidewall surface, a first one of the three harness anchor slots being provided with the strap clamp, and the transverse surface having two openings through which a second and third one of the three harness anchor slots are accessible.
4. The child safety car seat according to claim 3, wherein each of the rails includes an opening that extends from the inner to outer sidewall surface, the opening having an upper rim adjacent to the first harness anchor slot, and a lower rim located at a lower region of the rear of the child seat.
5. The child safety car seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping plate includes a bevel portion connecting between one of the ribs and the inner surface.
6. The child safety car seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the teeth are distributed in parallel alignment along the lengthwise ribs.
7. The child safety car seat according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the teeth are distributed staggered along the lengthwise ribs.
8. The child safety car seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the child seat includes a seat portion and a seatback, and the rails extend from a rear of the seatback to an underside of the seat portion.
9. The child safety car seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping plate further includes an outer surface, and a side contour edge connected between the inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface having a mount pocket in which the shaft and the spring are assembled.
10. The child safety car seat according to claim 9, wherein the shaft is placed in the mount pocket and has upper and lower end portions extending through two opposite sides of the side contour edge to respectively affix with two opposite inner sidewalls of the harness anchor slot,
11. The child safety car seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the spring has a first end anchored with the clamping pate, and a second end anchored with a surface of the rail adjacent to the harness anchor slot.
12. The child safety car seat according to claim 3, wherein when the child safety car seat is placed in a rearward facing configuration in a vehicle, a portion of a vehicle seatbelt is passed through the second harness anchor slot of one of the two rails, and the third harness anchor slot of the other rail to hold the child safety car seat in place.
13. A child safety seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.