Car seat harness removal system

A harness locking mechanism for use with a child restraint seat is configurable between a locked state in which a harness cannot be removed from the seat and an unlocked seat in which the harness can be removed from the seat for cleaning or replacement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to seats for use by children in motor vehicles and, more particularly, to seats having child-restraining harnesses. More particularly, the present invention relates to children's vehicle seats with removable harnesses and, in particular, to systems and methods for quickly and effectively removing and replacing such harnesses.

BACKGROUND

Child seats are widely used by operators of motor vehicles. Child seats generally include a plastic shell with a cushioned seat formed over the shell. A harness is generally provided on the seat to restrain the child and retain the child in the seat. Harness systems typically include a shoulder harness with straps designed to extend over the shoulders of the child, a lower belt, and a buckle.

During use, the belts or straps of the harness system can become worn or dirty. However, with conventional car seats, removal and replacement of the harness belt is not possible without specialized tools or destruction of the seat.

In short, prior art devices do not provide the important advantages of allowing easy and quick removal and replacement of the harness system, namely without the need to use specialized tools. Thus, it may be desirable to provide systems and methods for quickly and effectively removing and replacing the harness system of a car seat, namely through the operation of an easy-to-use and conveniently-located latching or locking mechanism.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a child restraint seat is provided having a harness locking mechanism.

In a first aspect, a child restraint seat may include a seat shell having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface including a longitudinal groove therein; a flexible retention tab located in the rear surface of the seat shell and forming a border of the longitudinal groove; and a harness locking mechanism configurable between (a) a locked state in which the harness locking mechanism abuts the retention tab, and (b) an unlocked state in which, upon deflection of the retention tab away from the longitudinal groove, the harness locking mechanism slides axially along the longitudinal groove past the retention tab.

In some embodiments, the harness locking mechanism may include a locking pin, a locking tab, and an anchor member. The locking tab may be connected to a distal end of the locking pin. The locking pin may engage with the anchor member by passing through a hole in the anchor member. The anchor member may include an anchor rod affixed to a seat frame tube. In such embodiments, the locking pin may engage with each of the anchor rod and the seat frame tube by passing through a hole in each of the anchor rod and the seat frame tube.

In particular configurations, when the retention tab is in the locked state, the locking pin engages the anchor member and the locking tab abuts the retention tab, thereby preventing the harness locking mechanism from sliding axially along the longitudinal groove.

In embodiments, when the retention tab is I the unlocked state upon deflection of the retention tab away from the longitudinal groove, the locking pin disengages from the anchor member and slides axially along the longitudinal groove with at least the locking tab sliding past a distal end of the retention tab.

The retention tab and the locking tab can each be made of plastic. The locking pin and the anchor member can each me made of metal.

In some embodiments, the rear surface of the seat shell may further include a raised projection located proximate the retention tab. The raised projection may be configured to limit the extent of deflection of the retention tab away from the longitudinal groove.

In another aspect, a child restraint seat may include a seat shell having a front surface and a rear surface; a harness locking mechanism including a locking pin and an anchor member; and a flexible retention tab located in the rear surface of the seat shell, the retention tab configurable between (a) a locked state in which the locking pin engages the anchor member, and (b) an unlocked state in which, upon deflection of the retention tab, the locking pin disengages from the anchor member.

In yet another aspect, a method of removing a harness from a child restraint seat may include providing a child restraint seat including (a) a seat shell having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface including a flexible retention tab located therein, (b) a harness, and (c) a harness locking mechanism including a locking pin, a locking tab connected to a distal end of the locking pin, and an anchor member; applying a force to the retention tab to deflect the retention tab; sliding the locking tab past the deflected retention tab, such that the locking pin disengages from the anchor member; and pulling the harness from the rear surface of the seat shell therethrough and removing the harness.

In some embodiments, the applying step may further include applying a force to deflect the retention tab away from a longitudinal groove in the rear surface of the seat shell. A border of the longitudinal groove may be formed by the retention tab.

In particular configurations, the sliding step may further include sliding the locking tab axially along the longitudinal groove past the deflected retention tab, such that the locking pin disengages from the anchor member and slides axially along the longitudinal groove with at least the locking tab sliding past a distal end of the retention tab.

In some embodiments, the method may further include feeding a new harness from the rear surface of the seat shell therethrough; and sliding the locking tab back past the retention tab, such that the locking pin reengages the anchor member.

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the present disclosure as presently perceived. The drawings are only to serve for reference and illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While an embodiment of a child restraint seat is provided herein that includes a harness locking mechanism that is configurable between a locked and an unlocked state to facilitate removal of an associated harness, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments of such a harness locking mechanism, either employed alone or as a component of a child restraint, with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles disclosed herein and is not intended to be limited to merely the illustrated and discussed embodiments

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary child restrain seat10is shown. The child restraint seat10may generally be comprised of a variety of known components, such as a seat shell20. The seat shell20may, in embodiments, be generally defined by a seating portion12and a back rest portion14. The seat shell20includes a front surface22(shown inFIG. 1) and an opposing rear surface24.

As can be seen with reference toFIG. 2, slots26can be formed in the seat shell20for the passage of a harness (not shown) therethrough. In particular, in embodiments, the harness can be fed through the slots in the seat shell so as to pass the harness from the rear surface24to the front surface22of the seat shell20.

Turning toFIG. 3, the rear surface24of the seat shell20can be seen. In the rear surface24of the seat shell20, one or more longitudinal slots or grooves28can be formed. As used herein, the term “groove” is intended to encompass those structures capable of receiving a corresponding component for guided movement therein or therethrough. As shown with reference toFIGS. 3-5, the longitudinal groove28may be defined by a plurality of walls extending outwardly away from the rear surface24of the seat shell20, with the walls generally enclosing or surrounding a narrow opening (e.g., that passes from the front surface to the rear surface of the seat shell), thereby defining the longitudinal groove28. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the longitudinal groove28may extend from the front surface to the rear surface of the seat shell, but could also be formed such that the longitudinal groove28does not extend completely through the seat shell to the front surface. In certain embodiments, the longitudinal groove can be formed in the rear surface of the seat shell or, alternatively, can be formed from one or more parts separate from the seat shell.

With continued reference toFIGS. 3-5, a retention tab30may form a border of (e.g., one of the walls surrounding) the longitudinal groove28. The retention tab30is generally formed of any suitably flexible, and preferably at least semi-elastic, material capable of withstanding repeated deflection without undue stress or breakage. In particular embodiments, the retention tab28can be made of a plastic. The retention tab30is configured for deflection away from the longitudinal groove28(i.e., away from the interior of the longitudinal groove). In this way, the retention tab30may be deflected from an unlocked or non-deflected state (i.e., when no force is applied to the retention tab) to an unlocked deflected state (i.e., when sufficient force is applied to the retention tab). It is desired that deflection of the retention tab30can be accomplished by applying a small force (e.g., by a finger) to the retention tab30in a direction away from the longitudinal groove28. It is further desired that the deflection tab30is in the locked state by default (i.e., when no force is applied) and that sufficient force is required to deflect the retention tab to the unlocked state. Similarly, it is desired that the retention tab is sufficiently flexible to automatically return to the locked or non-deflected state when the deflecting force is no longer applied thereto. In certain embodiments, the retention tab can be formed in the rear surface of the seat shell or, alternatively, can be formed from one or more parts separate from the seat shell.

In certain embodiments, the retention tab30may, at its distal end, extend into the interior of the longitudinal groove28when in the locked state. In this way, when the retention tab30is in the locked or non-deflected state, the retention tab30may, at least partially, act as a barrier preventing passage of any other components axially along the longitudinal groove28, as will be explained in greater detail herein. The size and shape of the distal end of the retention tab30may be selected depending on the specifics of the particular application (e.g., the size of the longitudinal groove, the size of corresponding components of the harness locking mechanism), as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the distal end of the retention tab30may be generally triangular-shaped, so as to provide a flat surface against which adjacent components may abut when the retention tab30is in the locked or non-deflected state (thereby preventing such adjacent components from sliding axially along the longitudinal groove past the retention tab).

A harness locking mechanism40is also provided for facilitating the removal and replacement of the harness in the child restraint seat. Similar to the retention tab, the harness locking mechanism40is configurable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state (as shown inFIGS. 3-5), the harness locking mechanism40generally prevents the removal of the harness (not shown) from the child restraint seat. Conversely, when the harness locking mechanism is in the unlocked state, the harness locking mechanism generally facilitates the removal of the harness and the insertion of a new harness.

The harness locking mechanism40includes a locking pin42, a locking tab44(e.g., made of plastic) connected to a distal end of the locking pin42, and an anchor member46. The locking pin42is, in embodiments, is a rigid pin (e.g., made of metal) that is connected to the locking tab44(e.g., at its distal end and engages with the anchor member46at its opposite end. The locking pin42may, in embodiments, engage with the anchor member46by passing through a hole in the anchor member46. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the locking pin42passes through aligned holes in each of the anchor rod46aand seat frame tube46bof the anchor member46. In this way, the locking pin42may selectively engage and disengage from the anchor member46.

In the locked state (as shown inFIGS. 3-5), the locking pin42engages the anchor member46(i.e., the anchor rod46aand seat tube frame46b) and the locking tab44abuts the retention tab30. In this way, the harness locking mechanism40is prevented from sliding axially along the longitudinal groove30when in the locked state.

Upon deflection of the retention tab30away from the longitudinal groove28, thereby placing the retention tab in the unlocked state, the harness locking mechanism40can be slid axially along the longitudinal groove28. In particular, by applying force to the locking tab44and causing it to slide past the retention tab30, the locking pin42connected thereto is caused to slide out of engagement with the anchor member46(i.e., seat tube frame46band the anchor rod46a, in respective succession) and axially along the longitudinal groove28. As shown, the locking pin42generally has a length that is substantially equal to or less than the length of the longitudinal groove28. In particular, the locking pin42may be sized such that once the locking tab44at the distal end of the locking pin42is slid past the distal end of the retention tab30, the opposite end of the locking pin42becomes disengaged with the anchor member46. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the locking pin42and anchor member46may be of any desired size or shape suitable to provide sufficient strength to retain the harness locking mechanism40in the locked state until a sufficient force is applied to slide the harness locking mechanism40axially along the longitudinal groove28past the deflected retention tab30. Moreover, the triangular-shaped distal end of the retention tab30may be oriented such that the angled side of the distal end faces the locking tab44when the harness locking mechanism40is in the unlocked stated, such that when the harness locking mechanism40is returned to the locked state (i.e., by sliding the locking tab44past the retention tab30, such that the locking pin42reengages the anchor member46), the locking tab44may automatically deflect the retention tab30away from the longitudinal groove28(i.e., without the need to apply an external force to the retention tab due to the angled nature of retention tab).

As best seen inFIG. 3, anchor member46may be formed by an anchor rod46a(e.g., a rigid tube made of metal) affixed along its lower end to a seat tube frame46b(e.g., a rigid metal structure). The anchor member46holds the harness (not shown inFIG. 3) in place for all standard uses, though the harness generally undergoes no motion relative to the anchor member46during standard use. During installation and removal of the harness, as will be described in more detail herein, the anchor member46and the slots26formed in the seat shell20serve as a guide to assist in directing the harness to the appropriate location. The anchor rod46ais generally affixed to the seat tube frame46b(e.g., by welding) in such a way that neither the anchor rod46anor seat tube frame46bmoves as the locking pin42is slid into and out of engagement therewith. In this way, the holes in each of the anchor rod46aand seat tube frame46bmay be aligned with one another and sized to receive the locking pin42for passage therethrough. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the anchor member46could be formed by various other structures with which the locking pin42could engage. By way of non-limiting example, the anchor member42could be a hole or indentation in the seat shell.

As previously described, the locking pin42and connected locking tab44are generally sized so as to be capable of sliding axially along the longitudinal groove28with relatively little force being applied to the locking tab44. As can be best seen inFIG. 5, the locking tab44generally has a width or diameter that is greater than a width or diameter of the locking pin42. More particularly, the locking tab44may, in certain embodiments, have an H-shaped cross section. In this way, the locking tab44may have a plurality of outwardly-extending “legs” shaped complementary to the walls bordering the longitudinal groove28, such that the locking tab44may “ride” along the walls bordering the longitudinal groove28as the locking tab44and connected locking pin42slide axially along the longitudinal groove28, with the “legs” likewise preventing the locking tab44from becoming disengaged from the walls surrounding the longitudinal groove28.

As best seen inFIG. 5, the rear surface24of the seat shell may, in some embodiments, include a raised projection29extending outwardly therefrom. The raised projection29may, as shown, be located proximate the retention tab30. In particular, the raised projection29may be located in a path of deflection of the retention tab30(i.e., along the path that the retention tab travels when deflected). In this way, the raised projection, may limit the extent of deflection of the retention tab30away from the longitudinal groove28. As a result, the raised projection29can effectively increase the life of the retention tab30by preventing the retention tab30from being deflected too far (i.e., to a point that would damage the flexibility and elasticity of the retention tab).

FIGS. 6A-6Fshow the harness locking mechanism in use in a child restraint seat including a harness. In particular,FIGS. 6A-6Fshow one embodiment of a method for removing the harness from the child restraint seat.

As shown inFIG. 6A, the harness locking mechanism40is in the locked state (i.e., with the locking tab abutting the retention tab) and the retention tab30is in the locked or non-deflected state. As a result, the harness50is prevented from being removed from the child restraint seat.

InFIG. 6B, a force (i.e., finger pressure) is applied to the retention tab30in the direction of arrow602to cause the retention tab30to be deflected away from the longitudinal groove28. The retention tab30is thus in the unlocked or deflected state.

InFIG. 6C, a force (i.e., finger pressure) has been applied to the harness locking mechanism40in the direction of arrow604to cause the harness locking mechanism40to begin sliding axially along the longitudinal groove28.

InFIG. 6D, the harness locking mechanism40has been caused to slide axially along the full length of the longitudinal groove past the deflected retention tab. In particular, the locking tab44can be seen to have slid past the retention tab, thereby causing the locking pin42to disengage from the anchor member (not shown). The harness locking mechanism40is thus in the unlocked state.

InFIG. 6E, a force (i.e., a pulling force) is applied to the harness50from the rear of the seat (i.e., from the rear surface24of the seat shell) in the direction of arrow606to cause the harness50to be pulled through the seat shell. As explained above, during removal of the harness50, the anchor member46(i.e., the anchor rod46a) and the slots26formed in the seat shell20serve as a guide to assist in directing the harness through the seat shell.

InFIG. 6F, the harness50has been removed from the seat shell. The harness locking mechanism40remains in the unlocked state so that the harness (or a new harness) can be fed back through the seat shell from the rear of the seat (i.e., from the rear surface24of the seat shell). After cleaning or replacement of the harness, for example, the harness may be reinstalled into the seat shell. During installation or re-installation of the harness50, the anchor member46(i.e., the anchor rod46a) and the slots26formed in the seat shell20serve as a guide to assist in directing the harness through the seat shell. After the harness is fed back through the seat shell, the harness locking mechanism40may be returned to the locked state (i.e., by sliding the locking tab past the retention tab, such that the locking pin reengages the anchor member), thereby preventing the harness from being removed.

Although a specific harness locking mechanism for use in a child restraint seat has been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. More specifically, following from the above description, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, while the systems and methods described herein constitute exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these precise systems and methods and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.