Child safety seat

A child safety seat includes a seat shell for receiving a child and having a backrest and a front end opposite to the backrest, an extension member connected with the seat shell, and a latching mechanism. The extension member is positionable in a first configuration where the extension member rises upward at the front end of the seat shell, and in a second configuration where the extension member stretches forward and downward from the front end of the seat shell. The latching mechanism is operable to lock the extension member with respect to the seat shell in any of the first and second configurations.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to child safety seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

A child safety seat is typically used in an automobile vehicle to properly restrain a child in the event of accidental collision. It is widely known that a child safety seat that is placed in a rear facing position can provide better protection, because it can distribute crash forces over a larger portion of the body (i.e., the back supporting the head). The crash protection in the rear facing position may also be improved by providing an anti-rebound bar at a front end of the child safety seat.

However, when the child safety seat is installed on a vehicle seat in a forward facing position, the anti-rebound bar usually has to be removed or stowed for the child to safely ride in the child safety seat. As a result, the conventional anti-rebound bar has a functional use that is limited to only the rear facing position.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved child safety seat having an anti-rebound feature that is more flexible in use, and can address at least the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a child safety seat having an extension member disposed at a front of the child safety seat that can be adjusted to different configurations of use in accordance with the needs. In one embodiment, the child safety seat includes a seat shell for receiving a child and having a backrest and a front end opposite to the backrest, an extension member connected with the seat shell, and a latching mechanism. The extension member is positionable in a first configuration where the extension member rises upward at the front end of the seat shell, and in a second configuration where the extension member stretches forward and downward from the front end of the seat shell. The latching mechanism is operable to lock the extension member with respect to the seat shell in any of the first and second configurations.

According to another embodiment, a child safety seat described herein includes a seat shell for receiving a child and having a backrest and a front end opposite to the backrest, an extension member, a first and a second latch and a release actuator. The extension member is disposed adjacent to the front end of the seat shell, and includes a first and a second adjustable part. The first adjustable part is slidably connected with the seat shell, the second adjustable part is pivotally connected with the first adjustable part about a pivot joint, the first adjustable part being slidable relative to the seat shell to increase or reduce a distance between the pivot joint and the front end of the seat shell, and the second adjustable part being rotatable relative to the first adjustable part and the seat shell in front of the front end. The first and second latches are respectively assembled with the extension member, the first latch being movable to lock and unlock the first adjustable part with respect to the seat shell, and the second latch being operable to rotationally lock and unlock the second adjustable part with respect to the first adjustable part. The release actuator is assembled with the extension member and is operatively connected with the first and second latches, the release actuator being operable to cause the first and second latches to move concurrently for unlocking the first and second adjustable parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat100suitable for seating a child in a vehicle. The child safety seat100can include a base102, and a seat shell106disposed on the base102. The base102can provide stable support for the seat shell106, and also allow recline adjustment of the seat shell106relative to the base102. The seat shell106can be sized to receive a child. The seat shell106has a backrest108, a front end110opposite to the backrest108, and two lateral guard portions112respectively extending along a left and a right side of the seat shell106from the backrest108to the front end110. The two lateral guard portions112can restrict lateral movement of a child received in the seat shell106. In addition, the seat shell106may be assembled with an adjustable headrest114. The headrest114can slide on the backrest108for adjustment according to the size of a child received in the child safety seat100. Moreover, the seat shell106may be fixedly connected with two rigid beams116disposed respectively adjacent to the two lateral guard portions112. The two rigid beams116may be provided as a reinforcing structure, and can extend from the backrest108to the front end110of the seat shell106. The child safety seat100described herein can be installed on a vehicle seat in a rearward facing position (i.e., facing a seatback of a vehicle seat) or a forward facing position (i.e., facing a front of the vehicle).

Referring toFIG. 1, the child safety seat100further includes an extension member120that is connected with the seat shell106and is disposed adjacent to the front end110of the seat shell106. The extension member120may be adjusted to different configurations according to the needs.FIGS. 2-5are side views illustrating exemplary configurations of use for the extension member120. Referring toFIG. 2, the extension member120may be positioned in an anti-rebound configuration where the extension member120rises upward at the front end110of the seat shell106. The extension member120can be positioned in the anti-rebound configuration when the child safety seat100is installed on a vehicle seat202in the rearward facing position, whereby the extension member120can abut against a seatback204of the vehicle seat202and prevent rebound of the child safety seat100when car collision occurs.

Referring toFIG. 3, the extension member120may be positioned in a leg support configuration in which the extension member120stretches forward and downward from the front end110of the seat shell106. The extension member120can be positioned in the leg support configuration when the child safety seat100is installed on a vehicle seat202in the forward facing position, whereby the extension member120can provide resting support for the legs of a child received in the seat shell106. It will be appreciated that different angular positions of the extension member120may be set in the leg support configuration to provide a comfortable support for the child's legs.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 4andFIGS. 3 and 5, in either of the anti-rebound configuration and the leg support configuration, the extension member120may further be retracted toward the seat shell106or extended forward so as to reduce or increase a leg room according to the size of a child received in the seat shell106. For example, the extension member120is shown as being extended forward from the front end110in the anti-rebound configuration inFIG. 4, and extended forward from the front end110in the leg support configuration inFIG. 5.

In conjunction withFIGS. 1-5,FIG. 6is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of the extension member120with the seat shell106, andFIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating the extension member120alone. For the sake of clarity, a portion of the seat shell106is omitted inFIG. 6to better show the assembly of the extension member120. Referring toFIGS. 1-7, the extension member120can include two adjustable parts122and124that are movably assembled with each other. The adjustable part122can be slidably connected with the seat shell106, whereby the extension member120can slide relative to the seat shell106to extend forward from the front end110of the seat shell106or retract toward the seat shell106to increase or reduce a leg room for a child. According to an example of construction, the adjustable part122can include a plurality of support bars126(e.g., two support bars126are shown in the illustrated embodiment) that are respectively connected slidably with the rigid beams116. For example, each support bar126may be telescopically assembled through one corresponding rigid beam116.

According to an example of construction, the adjustable part124can include a panel128. The adjustable part124can be pivotally connected with the adjustable part122about a pivot axis130that extends transversally from a left to a right side of the seat shell106. For example, the panel128can be fixedly connected with two coupling portions132, each support bar126can be respectively connected fixedly with a coupling portion134, and the coupling portions132and134can be pivotally connected with each other about the pivot axis130to form a pivot joint136at each of the left and right sides of the extension member120. Each coupling portion132can be formed integrally with the adjustable part124, or can be a separate part fixedly attached to the adjustable part124via a fastener. Likewise, each coupling portion134can be formed integrally with the adjustable part122, or can be a separate part fixedly attached to the adjustable part122via a fastener.

With the aforementioned construction, the adjustable part122can slide relative to the seat shell106to increase or reduce a distance between each pivot joint136and the front end110of the seat shell106, thereby expanding or reducing a leg room in front of the seat shell106. Moreover, the adjustable part124can rotate about the pivot axis130relative to the adjustable part122and the seat shell106in front of the front end110to set the anti-rebound configuration or the leg support configuration described previously. For example, the adjustable part124can rise upward from the pivot joints136in the anti-rebound configuration, and stretch forward and downward from the pivot joints136in the leg support configuration. It will be appreciated that different angular positions of the adjustable part124may be set in the anti-rebound configuration and the leg support configuration according to the needs. For example, rather than stretching forward and downward, the adjustable124may stretch substantially parallel to the adjustable part122in the leg support configuration so as to support the legs of a child.

In conjunction withFIGS. 1-7,FIG. 8is an exploded view illustrating further construction details provided in the extension member120. Referring toFIGS. 1-8, a latching mechanism140may be provided to lock the extension member120with respect to the seat shell106in any of the anti-rebound and leg support configurations. The latching mechanism140can include a latch142for locking the adjustable part122in position so as to prevent its sliding relative to the seat shell106, and another latch144for rotationally locking the adjustable part124with respect to the adjustable part122. Since the adjustable part122includes two support bars126in the illustrated embodiment, the same latching mechanism140comprised of the two latches142and144may be respectively provided at each of the left and right sides to lock and unlock the adjustable parts122and124.

According to an example of construction, the latch142can be slidably assembled with the adjustable part122. The latch142can engage any one of multiple locking openings146(better shown inFIG. 6) provided in the seat shell106to lock the adjustable part122with respect to the seat shell106, or disengage from the locking openings146to unlock the adjustable part122for its sliding adjustment relative to the seat shell106. For example, the latch142can be slidably connected with one support bar126, and the locking openings146can be provided along the corresponding rigid beam116. The sliding assembly of the latch142can include, e.g., a guide slot148provided on the support bar126, and a pin shape provided on the latch142and guided for sliding movement through the guide slot148. The latch142can thereby slide transversally relative to the support bar126to engage or disengage any one of the locking openings146on the rigid beam116, thereby locking or unlocking the support bar126with respect to the rigid beam116.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, the latching mechanism140at each of the left and right sides can further include a spring150having two ends respectively connected with the latch142and the support bar126. The spring150can bias the latch142for engagement with the seat shell106to lock the adjustable part122with respect to the seat shell106.

Referring toFIG. 8, the latch144for rotationally locking the adjustable part124can be assembled with the extension member120and received in an inner cavity defined between the two coupling portions132and134of the pivot joint136. According to an example of construction, the latch144may be assembled for sliding movement along the pivot axis130defined by the pivot joint136. For example, the pivot axis130may be defined by a shaft152that pivotally connects the two coupling portions132and134, and the latch144can be assembled for sliding movement along the shaft152. The latch144can thereby move along the pivot axis130between a locking position where the latch144is engaged with the two coupling portions132and134to prevent rotation of the adjustable part124relative to the adjustable part122, and an unlocking position where the latch144is disengaged from one of the two coupling portions132and134for rotation of the adjustable part124relative to the adjustable part122. For example, the latch144may be circumferentially provided with a plurality of teeth144A, and each of the coupling portions132and134can include a plurality of corresponding grooves (grooves132A for the coupling portion132, and grooves134A for the coupling portion134). The teeth144A of the latch144can be engaged with the grooves132A of the coupling portion132and the grooves134A of the coupling portion134in the locking position, and can disengage from the grooves132A of the coupling portion132in the unlocking position.

It will be appreciated that instead of having the teeth144A of the latch144disengaged from the grooves132A of the coupling portion132in the unlocking position, an alternative embodiment may have the teeth144A of the latch144disengaged from the grooves134A of the coupling portion134in the unlocking position.

Referring toFIG. 8, the latching mechanism140provided at each of the left and right sides can further include a spring166having two ends respectively connected with the latch144and the coupling portion134. The spring166can bias the latch144to the locking position for engagement with the two coupling portions132and134.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, the latching mechanism140provided at each of the left and right sides can further include a release actuator158. The release actuator158is assembled with the extension member120and is operatively connected with the two latches142and144, whereby the release actuator158is operable to cause the two latches142and144to move concurrently for unlocking the two adjustable parts122and124. According to an embodiment, the release actuator158can be slidably assembled adjacent to the pivot joint136, e.g., the coupling portion132can include an opening159, and the release actuator158may be assembled in the opening159for sliding movement along the pivot axis130. When the release actuator158is depressed, the release actuator158can contact with the latch144and urge the latch144to move against the biasing force of the spring166from the locking position to the unlocking position for unlocking the adjustable part124.

Referring toFIG. 8, the latching mechanism140further includes a linking assembly160for operatively connecting the release actuator158with the latch142, which is disposed remotely from the release actuator158. The linking assembly160can movably link the two latches142and144so that an operation of the release actuator158can cause the two latches142and144to move concurrently for unlocking the two adjustable parts122and124. According to an example of construction, the linking assembly160can include two actuating parts162and164, a wire168and a spring170. The actuating part162is movably assembled with the adjustable part122adjacent to the latch142, and can be in sliding contact with the latch142. For example, the actuating part162can be assembled for sliding movement along the support bar126perpendicularly to the sliding axis of the latch142. As better shown inFIG. 9, the actuating part162can have a ramp162A in sliding contact with a lateral protrusion142A provided on the latch142. Owing to this sliding contact, a forward displacement of the actuating part162can urge the latch142to slide for unlocking the adjustable part122.

The actuating part164can be movably assembled between the two coupling portions132and134of the pivot joint136, and can be disposed adjacent to the latch144. For example, the actuating part164can be pivotally assembled about the shaft152so that the actuating part164can rotate about the same pivot axis130of the adjustable part124. During a sliding displacement of the latch144for unlocking the adjustable part124, the actuating part164can be urged by the latch144to rotate relative to the latch144and the coupling portions132and134via a sliding contact between the latch144and the actuating part164. For example, the latch144can be in sliding contact with a ramp164A provided on the actuating part164while sliding for unlocking the adjustable part124.

The wire168can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the two actuating parts162and164. Accordingly, a movement of the latch144for unlocking the adjustable part124can cause the actuating part164to rotate and pull the actuating part162to slide forward, which in turn can urge the latch142to slide for unlocking the adjustable part122via the sliding contact between the latch142and the ramp162A of the actuating part162.

The spring170is operable to apply a biasing force that can assist in displacing the two actuating parts162and164to an initial state as the latches142and144recover their respective locking positions. For example, the spring170can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the adjustable part122(e.g., the support bar126) and the actuating part162. The biasing force applied by the spring170can tend to pull the actuating part162rearward away from the pivot joint136.

Exemplary operation of the latching mechanism140is described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 7-9. When the release actuator158is depressed, the release actuator158can push the latch144to slide against the biasing force of the spring166from the locking position to the unlocking position for unlocking the adjustable part124as described previously. As the latch144moves toward the unlocking position, the latch144can urge the actuating part164to rotate in a first direction via the sliding contact between the latch144and the ramp164A of the actuating part164, which in turn can pull the actuating part162to slide forward against the biasing force of the spring170. As a result, the actuating part162can urge the latch142to slide against the biasing force of the spring150for disengaging from the locking openings146and unlocking the adjustable part122. Accordingly, the release actuator158is operable to cause concurrent unlocking of the two latches142and144for adjustment of the extension member120to a desirable configuration.

When the caregiver releases the release actuator158, the latch144is urged by the spring166and move from the unlocking position to the locking position for rotationally locking the adjustable part124with respect to the adjustable part122. As the latch144moves to the locking position, the latch144can disengage from the actuating part164. As a result, the spring170can pull the actuating part162rearward, which can facilitate a sliding displacement of the latch142biased by the spring150for locking the adjustable part122with respect to the seat shell106. As the actuating part162moves rearward, the actuating part162can pull the actuating part164via the wire168so that the actuating part164can rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and recover its initial state. Accordingly, the two latches142and144can move concurrently to lock the extension member120in position.

Advantages of the child safety seat described herein include an extension member that is more flexible in use and is adjustable to different configurations according to the needs. The extension member may be disposed in an anti-rebound configuration when the child safety seat is installed in a rear facing position, and in a leg support configuration when the child safety seat is installed in a forward facing position. Moreover, the extension member may be further adjustable to increase or reduce a front leg room so that the child safety seat can advantageously accommodate children of different ages.

Realization of the child safety seat has been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.