GB2491456A

GB2491456A - A child seat with an adjustable headrest

Info

Publication number: GB2491456A
Application number: GB1209079.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Da Liang Zhang; Zu Jian Liu
Original assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Current assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-30
Filing date: 2012-05-24
Publication date: 2012-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-24
Also published as: DE102012104670A1; CN202173100U; DE102012104670B4; GB201209079D0; GB2491456B

Abstract

A child seat with an adjustable headrest is provided. The child seat includes a backrest 20; a headrest 10; and an actuator member 120 connected to the headrest 10. The backrest 20 has a guide track 202, one side-wall of the guide track being provided with a plurality of locking grooves 210. The headrest 10 has a stem 101 movably assembled through the guide track 202, the stem 101 including at least one resilient arm 110 that is biased toward a first state for disengaging the resilient arm 110 from any of the locking grooves 210. The actuator member 120 is biased toward a position where the actuator member 120 pushes the resilient arm 110 from the first state to a second state into engagement with any of the locking grooves 210.

Description

CHILD SEAT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority of China patent application no. 201120176768.6 filed on May 30, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present inventions relates to child seats having an adjustable headrest.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Most child seat products currently available on the market have headrests affixed with the backrests. Because the headrest cannot be adjustable relative to the backrest, the child seat is less flexible in use, and cannot accommodate children of different sizes.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a child seat having an adjustable headrest that is easy to operate, and can be cost-effective to manufacture.

SUMMARY

[0007] The present application describes a child seat. According to one embodiment, the child seat includes a backrest, a headrest, and an actuator member connected with the headrest. The backrest has a guide track, one sidewall of the guide track being provided with a plurality of locking grooves. The headrest has a stem movably assembled through the guide track, the stem including at least one resilient arm that is biased toward a first state for disengaging the resilient arm from any of the locking grooves. The actuator member is biased toward a position where the actuator member pushes the resilient ann from the first state to a second state into engagement with any of the locking grooves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seat provided with a headrest adjustment mechanism; [0009] Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a structure configuration after adjustment of the headrest relative to the backrest in the child seat shown in Figure 1; [0010] Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating a rear of the child seat provided with the headrest adjustment mechanism shown in Figure 1; [0011] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in Figure 3; [0012] Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating a part of the headrest adjustment mechanism provided on the backrest of the child seat; [0013] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of portion B shown in Figure 5; [0014] Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating a part of the headrest adjustment mechanism provided on the headrest of the child seat; [0015] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of portion C shown in Figure 7; [0016] Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating the headrest of Figure 3 under another angle; [0017] Figure 10 is an enlarged view of portion D shown in Figure 9; [0018] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the headrest adjustment mechanism shown in Figure 1; [0019] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of portion E shown in Figure 11; and [0020] Figure 13 is an enlarged view of portion F shown in Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present application describes a headrest adjustment mechanism for a child seat that is simple in structure, convenient to operate, and can effectively lock the headrest with the backrest at different heights to suit a child's size.

[0022] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the headrest adjustment mechanism can include a headrest 10 and a backrest 20. The headrest 10 can be configured to permit height adjustment of the headrest 10 relative to the backrest 20, i.e., the headrest 10 can be adjusted to engage with different locations of the backrest 20. Figure 2 illustrates a structure configuration after adjustment of the headrest 10 relative to the backrest 20.

[0023] Referring to Figures 3-5, the backrest 20 has a rear surface 201 provided with a lengthwise guide track 202. The guide track 202 can define a plurality of locking grooves 210 that can be disposed along two lengthwise rows on two opposite sidewalls of the guide track 202, the locking grooves 210 on the left sidewall being symmetrical to the locking grooves 210 on the right sidewall. In one example of a construction, two spaced-apart arms 204 extending along a lengthwise axis of the backrest 20 can protrude from the rear surface 201 to define the left and right sides of the guide track 202. An inner sidewall of each arm 204 can be formed with a plurality of recesses that form the locking grooves 210. In one embodiment, the left-side locking grooves 21 Oa and the right-side locking grooves 210b can be respectively six in amount. In other words, the headrest 10 can be adjusted to six different vertical positions relative to the backrest 20.

[0024] Referring to Figures 7-10, the headrest 10 can include a stem 101 extending vertically downward that can be movably assembled through the guide track 202. The stem 101 can include two resilient arms 110, and an actuator member 120 that can be biased to push the resilient arms 110 into engagement with different pairs of the locking grooves 210a and 2 lOb. An embodiment of the actuator member 120 can be formed as a handle shape. The resilient arms 110 can respectively include engaging studs lila and ii lb that can selectively engage with the locking grooves 210. The actuator member 120 can be biased to cause deformation of the resilient arms 110, 50 that the engaging studs lila and lilb can engage with the locking grooves 210.

[0025] Tn one embodiment, the resilient arms 110 can include a left resilient arm 1 lOa and a right resilient arm 1 lOb. The actuator member 120 can be disposed between the left and right resilient arms 11 Oa and 1 lOb, and can respectively contact and push against the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and iiob. A distance between the left resilient arm 1 i0a and the right resilient arm 1 lOb can be substantially equal to a width of the guide track 202. The left and right resilient arms 1 i0a and 1 lOb can respectively have connecting ends 1 lOla and ii0ib joined with the stem 101, and free ends 1102a and 1102b opposite to the connecting ends ilOla and llOlb. As the left and right resilient arms 11 Oa and 11 Ob are subject to elastic deformation, the free ends 1 102a and 1 102b can respectively deflect to the left and right side about the connecting ends ilOla and 1101b. The engaging studs lila and ilib can be respectively provided at the free ends 1 102a and 1102b, and can protrude in opposite directions.

The engaging stud lila on the left resilient arm 1 lOa can selectively engage with any of the left-side locking grooves 210a at the left side of the guide track 202, and the engaging stud 11 lb on the right resilient arm 1 lOb can selectively engage with any of the right-side locking grooves 210b at the right side of the guide track 202.

[0026] The actuator member 120 can extend parallel to the stem 101, and can be located adjacently between the resilient arms 1 iOa and ilOb. The actuator member can have a connecting end 1201 joined with the stem 101, and a free end 1202 opposite to the connecting end 1201. The free end 1202 can deflect about the connecting end 1201 toward or away from a plane of the stem 101 passing through the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb. This defined plane of the stem 101 can be defined from a major surface of the stem 101, and can extend generally parallel to the backrest 20.

[0027] The free end 1202 of the actuator member 120 can include a release actuating portion 1203, and two abutments 1204a and 1204b respectively protruding outward from the left and right sides of the release actuating portion 1203. The release actuating portion 1203 can be operable to drive deflection of the actuator member 120.

In one embodiment, the release actuating portion 1203 can be accessible from the rear of the backrest 20 for manipulation by a user.

[0028] The abutments 1204a and 1204b can respectively push against the left and right resilient arms 11 Oa and 11 Ob, and be located at a same height as the engaging studs lila and 11 lb on the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb. The stem 101, the actuator member 120, and the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb of the headrest 10 can be formed from an integral piece. Moreover, the stem 101 can have a lower end portion formed with two slots to define the actuator member 120 and the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb that have upper ends connected together. As a result, the stem 101, the actuator member 120, and the resilient arms 1 lOa and 11 Ob can be located in a same plane in which the resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb are deflectable to engage with and disengage from the locking grooves 210a and 21 Ob.

[0029] In an initial state, the actuator member 120 can be biased to a position where the abutments 1204a and 1204b can push against the engaging studs lila and 11 lb of the left and right resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb. As a result, the resilient arms llOa and liOb can be urged by the actuator member 120 to deflect outward so that the engaging studs 11 Ta and lllb can engage with one pair of the left-side and right-side locking grooves 2 TOa and 2 lOb on the backrest 20.

[0030] When the headrest 10 is to be adjusted, the release actuating portion 1203 on the actuator member 120 of the headrest 10 can be pulled outward away from the plane of the resilient arms 1 lOa and 11 Ob. As a resuh, the spring force loaded in the resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb can be released to cause the resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb to deflect from their initial state engaged with a pair of the locking grooves 210a and 210b toward a second state for disengaging from the locking grooves 210a and 2 lOb. The actuator member 120 can then be displaced upward, which can drive the resilient arms 1 lOa and 1 lOb to move upward. While they move along with the headrest 10, the resilient arms 11 Oa and ii Ob may deform in contact against the backrest 20 (the direction of deformation or displacement of the resilient arms ilOa and 1 lOb can be as respectively shown with arrows Fl and F2), which can cause the engaging studs lila and 11 lb to disengage from the left-side and right-side locking grooves 210a and 2 lOb. Accordingly, the stem 101 of the headrest 10 can freely slide along the guide track 202 of the backrest 20 for adjusting the height of the headrest 10 relative to the backrest 20.

[0031] Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 7, the rear surface 201 of the backrest 20 can also include a plurality of holding fingers 205 that can bend over the rear surface 201. The holding fingers 205 can be disposed in two parallel rows at the two outer sides of the arms 204. The gaps respectively delimited between the two rows of the holding fingers 205 and the rear surface 201 can form two outer guide tracks 207.

When the headrest 10 is assembled with the backrest 20, outer arms 102 of the headrest 10 can be respectively restrained to move in the outer guide tracks 207, whereby separation of the headrest 10 from the backrest 20 can be prevented.

[0032] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 9-13, the stem 101 of the headrest 10 can have a front surface 1010 facing an opposing surface of the backrest 20 that is provided with a lengthwise slot 109. The opposing surface of the backrest 20 facing the slot 109 can include a protruding finger 209 that is movably received in the slot 109. The slot 109 within which the finger 209 moves can delimit a range of vertical movement of the headrest 10 relative to the backrest 20. In particular, a lowermost rim edge of the slot 109 can form a first stop abutment 108 against which the finger 209 can abut when the headrest 10 moves upward relative to the backrest 20, which can prevent further upward displacement of the headrest 10 resulting in its disassembly from the backrest 20.

Moreover, the rear of the backrest 20 can include a second stop abutment 208 protruding rearward that is located below the guide track 202. The headrest 10 when moving downward can come into abutment against the second stop abutment 20, which can block further lowering of the headrest 10 that may resuh in its disassembly from the backrest 20.

[0033] Realizations of the child seat 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

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A child seat comprising: a backrest having a guide track, one sidewall of the guide track being provided with a plurality of locking grooves; and a headrest having a stem movably assembled through the guide track, the stem including at least one resilient arm that is biased toward a first state for disengaging the resilient arm from any of the locking grooves; and an actuator member connected with the headrest, the actuator member being biased toward a position where the actuator member pushes the resilient arm from the first state to a second state into engagement with one of the locking grooves.
2. The child seat according to claim I. wherein the stem defines a plane, the resilient arm is configured to deflect parallel to the plane of the stem to engage with and disengage from any of the locking grooves, and the actuator member is operable to deflect toward or away from the plane.
3. The child seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator member is connected with the stem.
4. The child seat according to any of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the actuator member is formed integral with the stem.
5. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient arm is formed integral with the stem.
6. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator member is disposed adjacent to the resilient arm, the actuator member being in contact with the resilient arm to urge the resilient arm into engagement with any of the locking grooves.
7. The child seat according to claim 6, wherein the resilient arm elastically deflects for disengaging from one of the locking grooves when the actuator member is displaced away from the position where the actuator member pushes the resilient arm into engagement with one of the locking grooves.
8. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient arm elastically deflects for disengaging from any of the locking grooves when the actuator member is displaced away from the plane of the stem.
9. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator member has a release actuating portion operable to drive deflection of the actuator member away from the position where the actuator member pushes the resilient arm into engagement with one of the locking grooves.is
10. The child seat according to claim 9, wherein the release actuating portion is accessible from a rear of the child seat.
11. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator member has a connecting end joined with the stem, and a free end operable to deflect relative to the connecting end.
12. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient arm is joined with the stem, and has a free end provided with an engaging stud adapted to engage with any of the locking grooves.
13. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the stem includes a second resilient arm, and the guide track has a second sidewall provided with locking grooves, the two resilient arms of the stem being adapted to oppositely engage with the locking grooves on the two sidewalls of the guide track.
14. The child scat according to claim 13, wherein a distance between the two resilient arms is substantially equal to a width of the guide track.
15. A child seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any combination of the accompanying drawings.