GB2489822A

GB2489822A - Support device for child safety seat

Info

Publication number: GB2489822A
Application number: GB1206170.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zheng-Wen Guo; Zong-Wang Cui
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2011-04-07
Filing date: 2012-04-05
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2032-04-05
Also published as: GB2489822B; CN202123949U; GB201206170D0

Abstract

A support device for a child safety seat includes a connection housing 10a, 10b that is mounted on a bottom surface of the seat, and a support member that is disposed partially in the connection housing 10a, 10b. The support member includes a support seat 23 and at least two support tubes 21, 22 that are telescoped with each other. An end of one of the support tubes 22 is extendable out of an upper end of the connection housing 10a, 10b while an end of the other one of the support tubes 21 is extendable out of a lower end of the connection housing 10 and is fixed to the support seat 23. The connection housing 10a, 10b may also include a locking piece which extends through a wall of a fixed tube and engages with a locking hole in the second support tube 22.

Description

SUPPORT DEVICE FOR CHILD SAFETY SEAT

The present invention relates to a support device and, more particularly, to a support device for a child safety seat.

Conventionally, a child safety seat includes a support device operable for adjusting the height of the seat. The support device includes a connection housing that is disposed on the front end of a bottom surface of the child safety seat, and a support member that is connected to the connection housing so as tobe supported on a floor of the vehicle. The support member is movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the connection housing so as to adjust the height of the child safety seat. In addition, by virtue of locking the support member at different heights using a first engaging mechanism that is provided in the connection housing, the child safety seat is suitable for different types

of vehicles. In the prior art, the support member

includes a support tube and a connection base. The connection base has a fixed tube and a second engaging mechanismdisposedtherein. The upper end of the support tubeisinsertedtelescopicallyintothefixedtubewhile the lower end of the support tube extends out of the connection housing and is fixed to a support seat. Since the conventional support member includes only one support tube, and since the adjustment range thereof is limitedbythe lengthof the fixedtube that isdisposed in the connection seat, the extension and retraction stroke of the support tube is relatively short. Therefore, the adjustable height of the child safety seat is limited, thereby adversely affecting the flexibility for use.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved telescopic support device to overcome the abovementioned shortcoming.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic support device that has a long extension and retraction stroke so as to provide an improved adjusting effect.

Accordingly, a support device for a child safety seat of the present invention comprises a connection housing that is mounted on a bottom surface of the seat and a support member that is disposed partially in the connection housing. The support member includes a support seat and at least two support tubes that are telescopedwitheachother. Anendofoneof the support tubes is extendable out of an upper end of the connection housing while an end of the other one of the support tubes is extendabie out of a lower end of the connection housing and is adapted to be fixed to a support seat.

Other features and advantages of the present inventionwilibecomeapparentinthefoliowingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a support device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment, viewed from another angle; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a use state; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a circled portion A in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment in an another use state; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a still another use state; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a circled portion B in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a further another use state; Figure 9 is a detail view of a circled portion C in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a part of the preferred embodiment; Figure 11 is a perspective cutaway view of the part of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the part of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of a support device 1 for a child safety seat (not shown) of the present invention comprises a connection housing and a support member 20. The connection housing 10 is formed by a front housing half lOa and a rear housing half lOb that are interconnected to define a receiving space 100 therebetween and is mounted on a bottom surface of a vehicle seat (not shown) . The support member 20 is received in the receiving space 100 and includes a support seat 23 and at least one pair of support tubes that are telescopedwith each other. In this embodiment, the support tubes include a first support tube 21 and a second support tube 22. A fixed tube 11 is disposed in the received space 100 of the connection housing 10.

The fixed tube 11 is hollow. Upper and lower ends of the connection housing 10 respectively have upper and loweropenings 110, 120 thatare in spatial communication with the fixed tube 11. The second support tube 22 is inserted telescopically into the fixed tube 11 and is movable in the fixed tube 11 to extend out of the upper opening 110. The first support tube 21 is inserted telescopically into the second support tube 22. The lower end of the first support tube 21 is movable to extend out of a lower end of the second support tube 22 and is connected to the support seat 23. Alternatively, the number of the support tubes may be greater than two.

Referring to Figure 7, in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, afirstlockinghole22lis formed in a sidewall of the second support tube 22. The second support tube 22 is further formed with a second locking hole 222.

A plurality of first positioning holes are formed in the first support tube 21 and include a plurality of aligned pairs of right and left first positioning holes 2lla, 211b. The left first positioning holes 2lla are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the first support tube 21. The right first positioning holes 211b are also spaced apart from one ancther in the longitudinal direction of the first support tube 21. Each aligned pair of the right and left first positioning holes 211a, 211b is formed respectively in two opposite sidewalis of the first support tube 21. A plurality of second positioning holes are formed in the second support tube 22 and include a plurality of aligned pairs of right and left second positioning holes 223a, 223b. The left second positioning holes 223a are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the second support tube 22. The right second positioning holes 223b are also spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the second support tube 22. Each aligned pairoftherightandieftsecondpositioningholes 223a, 223b is formed respectively in two opposite sidewalls of the second support tube 22.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, when the first support tube 21 is pulled to move with respect to the second support tube 22 bya desired distance, the first support tube 21 and the second support tube 22 are locked relative to each other by engaging an engaging mechanism with the left first and second positioning holes 211a, 223a and the corresponding right first and second positioning holes 2llb, 223b. The engagingmechanismincludes a left engaging assembly 13a and a right engaging assembly 13b.

The left engaging assembly iBa includes a level-type left engaging member 133a that is connected pivotally to a sidewall of the connection housing 10 and pivotable aboutaleftpivot shaft l3la, andafirst left resilient member l32a. The right engaging assembly 13b includes a level-type right engaging member l33b that is symmetrical to the left engaging member 133a, that is connected pivotally to an opposite sidewall of the connectionhousing 10 andthat ispivotableaboutaright pivot shaft l3lb, and a first right resilient member l32b. The front ends of the left and right engaging members 133a, 133b are respectively formed with right and left arcuate hooks l330a, l330b, and the rear ends of the same are respectively formed with level arms.

The left and right arcuate hooks l330a, l330b engage respectively the corresponding left first and second positioningholes2lla, 223aandthecorrespondingright first and second positioning holes 211b, 223b under the biasing action of the first left and right resilient members l32a, 132b. An operation button 14 consists of left and right operation buttons 14a, l4b that are disposed respectively on the two opposite sidewalls of the connectionhousinglO, andis allowable tobepressed by an external force. When the operation buttons 14a, l4b are pressed simultaneously, the left and right arcuate hooks l330a, 1330b can be rotated to disengage from the first and second positioning holes 211, 223.

Referring to Figure 6 and 7, the first support tube 21 has a first stop member 213 formed thereon. An inside wall surface of the lower end of the second support tube 22 has a first stop block 225 that cooperates with the first stop member 213 so that the first stop block 225 can prevent removal of the first support tuba 21 from the second support tube 22 when the first support tube 21 projects from the second support tube 22. An outside wall surface of the upper end of the second support tube 22 has a second stopmember 224 formedthereon. The lower end of the fixed tube 11 has a second stop block 112 that cooperates with the second stop member 224 so that the second stop block 112 can prevent removal of the second support tube 22 from fixed tube 11 when the second support tube 22 projects from the fixed tube 11.

As shown in Figure 7 and Figures 9 to 12, in this embodiment, the opposite sidewalls of the first support tube2lrespectivelyhaveafirstopening2l4andasecond opening 215 formed therein. Right and left ends of a locking pin 212 engage retractably the first opening 2l4andthesecondopening2l5, respectively. The locking pin 212 has a first inclination surface 2121 and a second inclination surface 2122 connected to the first inclination surface 2121. The first inclination surface 2121 is closer to the upper end of the first support tube 21 than the second inclination surface 2122. The front housing half lOa has an inwardly projecting unlocking block 15 formed on an inside surface of the lower end thereof. The unlocking block 15 has a third inclinationsurface 150 that is engageable slidablywith the first inclination surface 2121. The locking pin 212 is formed with an inclined slot 2120 that extends from an outer surface thereof toward the first support tube 21. A second resilient member 24 is sleeved on the locking pin 212 and has a portion extending along the slot 2120 to provide a force for returning the locking pin 212 to its original position. The second resilient member 24 is made of a C-shaped wire and includes a first resilient portion 241, a connection portion 242 and a second resilient portion 243. The first resilient portion 241 extends into the slot 2120. A distal end of the second resilient portion 243 is bent to form a hook 244. The hook 244 is secured into an engaging groove 216 that is formed in the first support tube 21.

As shown in Figures 6 to 9, a locking assembly 12 for locking the second support tube 22 within the fixed tube 11 includes a third resilient member 121 and a locking piece 122. The locking piece 122 has an inclination surface 1220 (see Fig. 7) formed at a right end thereof. An inside wall surface of the rear housing half lOb is formed with two positioning walls 123 that define a positioning groove therebetween. The third resilient member 121 and the locking piece 122 are both received in the positioning groove. The third resilient member 121 biases the locking piece 122 toward the second supporttube22, sothatthelockingpiecel22isslidable leftwardly and rightwardly in the positioning groove.

The fixed tube 11 has a fixing hole 113 into which the locking piece 122 extends. The locking piece 122 extends through the fixing hole 113 and engages detachably the first locking hole 221 of the second support tube 22, so that the second support tube 22 and the fixed tube 11 are locked relative to each other when the first support tube 21 is moved downwardly relative to the connection housing 10 to apredeterminedposition. When the first support tube 21 is pulled to move relative to the second support tube 22 to a position where the first stop member 213 comes into contact with and push the locking piece 122 to move, so as to unlock the second support tube 22 from the fixed tube 11, a right end of the locking pin 212 moves into the second locking hole 222 of the second support tube 22. Hence, the second support tube 22 and the first support tube 21 are locked and moved together until the first stop member 213 abuts against the first stop block 225. As shown in Figure 3, when the second support tube 22 and the first support tube 21 are locked together, they can be also be pushed together toward the connection housing 10, so that the second support tube 22 can project from the upper end of the connection housing 10.

As shown in Figure 5, when the support device 1 of this embodiment is in a minimum length state, the first support tube 21 and the second support tube 22 are received in the fixed tube 11 and the receiving space 100 of the connection housing 10. When the first support tube 21 is pulled out of the second support tube 22 and away from the connection housing 10, the second support tube 22 is locked on the fixed tube 11. As the first support tube 21 is pulled to move relative to the second support tube 22 to a desired position, the right and left arcuate hooks 1330a, l330b of the right and left engaging member l33a, 133b may engage the corresponding right first and second upper positioning holes 2lla, 223a and the corresponding left first and second positioning holes 2llb, 223b. When the first support tube 21 is pulled into contact with the inclination surface 1220 of the locking piece 122, the third resilient member 121 is compressed to disengage the locking piece 122 from the first locking hole 221. At this time, the second support tube 22 is unlocked from the fixedtube 11, soastobepuliedtomoveddownwardly, and the right end of the locking pin 212 extends into the second locking hole 222 of the second support tube 22, so that the second support tube 22 and the first support tube 21 can be locked and moved together. When the first support tube 21 is pulled with respect to the second support tube 22 toapredeterminedpositionwhere the first stop member 213 abuts against the first stop block 225, the first support tube 21 is prevented from being further pulled downwardly.

When it is desired to shorten the length of the support device 1, the right and left operation buttons 14a, 14b are pressed simultaneously to rotate the right and left arcuate hooks 1330a, 133Gb of the upper and the lower engagingmember 133a, l33babout the right andleftpivot shafts 131a, l3lb, respectively, to thereby disengage from the right first and second positioning holes 211a, 223a and the left first and second positioning holes 211b, 223b, respectively, so that the second support tube 22 can be retracted into the fixed tube 11. At this time, the first support tube 21 and the second support tube 22 are locked together by the locking pin 212 and therefore can be moved together. As shown in Figure 9, whenthesecondsupporttube22isretractedtoaposition where the unlocking block 15 comes into contact with the locking pin 212, the locking pin 212 is pushed leftwardly by the unlocking block 15 to disengage from the secondlockinghole222, therebyallowingfor further retraction of the first support tube 21 into the second support tube 22.

In sum, the support member 20 of the support device 1 of the present invention includes at least two support tubes that are telescoped with each other, and an end of one of the support tubes 21, 22 is extendable out of an upper end of the connection housing 10 while an end of the other one of the support tubes 21, 22 is extendable out of a lower end of the connection housing lOandis fixedtoa support seat 23. Withthis structure, theextensionandretractionstrokeofthesupportdevice 1 is equal to the sum of those of the support tubes 21, 22. The tube number of the telescopically interconnected support tubes 21, 22 can be increased without enlarging the receiving space 100 of the connectionhousinglO. Furthermore, asdescribedabove, the one of the support tubes is extendable out of the upper end of the connection housing 10 to increase greatlytheextensionandretractionstokeofthesupport member 20, thereby increasing the adjustable height of the child safety seat and improving convenience during use.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A support device for a child safety seat comprising a connection housing that is mounted on said seat, and a support member that is disposed partially in said connection housing, wherein said support member includes a support seat and at least two support tubes that are telescoped with each other, and an end of one of said support tubes is extendable out of an upper end of said connection housing while an end of the other one of said support tubes is extendable out of a lower end of said connection housing and is adapted to be fixed to a support seat.
2. The support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support tubes includes a first support tube and a second support tube, said second support tube being extendable out of the upper end of said connection housing, said first support tube 21 being inserted telescopically into said second support tube and being extendable out of the lower end of said connection housing.
3. The support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidconnectionhousinghasafixedtubedisposedtherein, said connection housing having upper and lower openings that are formed respectively in upper and lower ends thereof and that are in spatial communication with said fixed tube, said second support tube being inserted telescopically into said fixed tube.
4. The support device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said connection housing further has a locking piece disposed therein, and said second support tube has a first locking hole formed in a sidewall thereof, said locking piece extending through a wall of said fixed tube and engaging detachably said first locking hole.
5. The support device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first support tube has a locking pin disposed therein, and said second support tube has a second lockinghcle formedinthe sidewall thereof, saidlocking pin engaging detachably said second locking hole.
6. The support device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connection housing has an unlocking block disposed therein, said unlocking block contacting and pushing said locking pin out of said second locking hole as said first support tube is pulled to move downwardly relative to said second support tube.
7. The support device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first support tube has a first stop member formed thereon, saidsidewallofsaidsecondsupporttubehaving a first stop block that cooperates with said first stop member so that said first stop block can prevent removal of said first support tube from said second support tube when said first support tube is moved downwardly with respect to said second support tube.
8. The support device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second support tube has a second stop member formed thereon, saidsidewallof saidfixedtubehavinga second stop block that cooperates with said second stop member so that said second stop block can prevent removal of said second support tube from said fixed tube when said second support tube Is moved downwardly with respect to said fixed tube.
9. The support device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first support tube has two opposite sidewalls each formed with a plurality of first positioning holes arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof, and said second support tube has two opposite sidewalls each formed with a plurality of second positioning holes arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof.
10. The support device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising two engaging assemblies and two operation buttons, each of said engaging assemblies including two engaging members that are disposed pivotally in said connectionhousing, andtwo first resilientmembers that bias said engaging members to engage respectively a selected one of said first positioning holes and a selected one of said second positioning holes, said operation buttons being arranged so as to abut respectively against said engaging members, said operation buttons being operable to push said engaging memberstodisengagerespectivelyfromtheselectedones of said first and second positioning holes.
11. The support device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said engaging member of each of said engaging assemblies is a level-type structure that is connected pivotally to an inside wall surface of said connection housing ant that is pivotable about a pivot shaft, one end of said pivot shaft being formed with an arcuate hook, the other end of said pivot shaft abutting against a corresponding one of said operation buttons.
12. The support device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first support tube has aligned first and second openings formed therein, said locking pin being movable between said first amd second openings.
13. The support device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking pin is biased toward said first opening.
14. The support device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said locking pin has a first inclination surface and a second inclination surface connected to said first inclination surface, said first inclination surface being closer to an upper end of said first support tube than said second inclination surface, said unlocking block having a third inclination surface that is engageable slidably with said first inclination surface.
15. The support device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fixed tube has a fixing hole into which said locking piece extends, said locking piece being biased to extend through said fixing hole to engage detachably said first locking hole, said first stop member contacting and pushing said locking piece to disengage from said first locking hole as said first support tube is moved downwardly relative to said second support tube.
16. A support device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.