Child restraint with swiveling juvenile seat and swivel-direction controller

A child restraint includes a seat support and a juvenile seat mounted to swivel about an axis on the seat support. The seat support is adapted to set on a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to child restraints, and particularly to child restraints adapted to be anchored to a vehicle seat to transport a child in a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a child restraint including a swiveling juvenile seat.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a child restraint includes a seat support and a juvenile seat. The seat support includes a base and a swivel coupled to the base. The juvenile seat is mounted on the swivel for swiveling motion about an axis of rotation between “forward-facing” and “side-facing” positions. The juvenile seat includes a seat bottom mounted on the swivel and a seat back arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom.

In illustrative embodiments, the seat support of the child restraint also includes a swivel-direction controller that can be operated to allow a caregiver to limit the “swivel direction” of the juvenile seat to only a clockwise swivel direction or to a counterclockwise swivel direction and to positively establish the forward-facing position of the juvenile seat during swiveling motion of the juvenile seat. By selecting the clockwise swivel direction, the caregiver can swivel the juvenile seat only between a forward-facing “travel” position and a right-facing “entry” position to make it easier to place a child on the juvenile seat when the child restraint is anchored on a vehicle seat near a right rear passenger door in the vehicle. In contrast, by selecting the counterclockwise swivel direction, the caregiver can swivel the juvenile seat only between a forward-facing travel position and a left-facing entry position to make it easier to place a child on the juvenile seat that has been swiveled to assume the left-facing entry position when the child restraint is anchored on a vehicle seat near a left rear passenger door in the vehicle.

In illustrative embodiments, the juvenile seat also includes a seat-back lock and the base includes a swivel-status indicator associated with the seat-back lock. The seat-back lock is carried on the seat back and configured to include a hook designed to mate with a stationary seat anchor coupled to an upstanding anchor-support pad included in the base whenever the juvenile seat is swiveled relative to the base to assume a forward-facing travel position. The swivel-status indicator is coupled to the base and actuated by the hook included in the seat-back lock to notify an observer whenever the juvenile seat is locked to the base in the forward-facing travel position.

A hook-release controller is coupled to each armrest included in the juvenile seat and configured to operate a companion linkage coupled to the hook so that a user can disengage the hook from the stationary seat anchor whenever the operator desires to swivel the juvenile seat relative to the base from the forward-facing travel position to either a left-facing or right-facing entry position so that a child can be seated easily in the juvenile seat while the base of the child restraint is fixed in a stationary position on a vehicle seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A child restraint10in accordance with the present disclosure includes a seat support11and a rotatable juvenile seat14mounted on seat support11. Seat support11includes a base12and a swivel system16comprising a swivel46and a swivel-direction controller48. Swivel16is coupled to base12and juvenile seat14and configured to support juvenile seat14for swiveling motion about a vertical axis18between, for example, a “left-facing” entry position shown inFIG. 1, a “forward-facing” travel position shown inFIG. 2, and a “right-facing” entry position shown inFIG. 3. Swivel-direction controller48is coupled to base12as suggested inFIGS. 1-3and17.

Swivel-direction controller48provides means for setting a swivel direction of juvenile seat14to allow swiveling motion of juvenile seat14about axis18in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction at the option of a caregiver. Swivel-direction controller48includes a direction-selector switch190that can be moved by a caregiver to a first position relative to base12as shown inFIGS. 18-20to allow swiveling movement of juvenile seat14between the forward-facing travel position ofFIG. 2and the right-facing entry position ofFIG. 3. Alternatively, direction-selector switch190can be moved by a caregiver to a second position relative to base12as shown inFIGS. 21 and 22to allow swiveling movement of juvenile seat14between the forward-facing travel position ofFIG. 2and the left-facing entry position ofFIG. 1.

Seat support11of child restraint10also includes a stationary seat anchor20coupled to base12as suggested inFIGS. 1,4, and9. Stationary seat anchor20includes an exposed U-shaped anchor rail73as shown inFIGS. 1-5. Juvenile seat14includes a seat-back lock22is configured to mate with U-shaped anchor rail73of seat anchor20to block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14as suggested inFIGS. 5-7and10-12. A swivel-status indicator24also included in seat support11cooperates with seat-back lock22as suggested, for example, inFIGS. 10-12,13, and14to raise a signal flag26included in swivel-status indicator24to a visible position above base12as shown inFIGS. 12 and 14to notify an observer that seat-back lock22has mated with stationary seat anchor20to block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14about vertical axis18relative to base12.

Base12is L-shaped in an illustrative embodiment as suggested inFIGS. 1 and 4. Base12includes a horizontally extending swivel-mount pad28arranged to underlie juvenile seat14and an upright anchor-support pad30arranged to extend upwardly from a rear edge of swivel-mount pad28. Seat anchor20and swivel-status indicator24are coupled to a top portion50of upright anchor-support pad30as suggested inFIGS. 1-4. Base12is adapted to be anchored to a vehicle seat32using any suitable means such as a lap-and-shoulder belt restraint harness34associated with vehicle seat32.

Juvenile seat14includes a seat bottom38, a seat back40extending upwardly from a rear portion of seat bottom38, and first and second armrests41,42coupled to seat bottom38and seat back40as shown, for example, inFIG. 1. Juvenile seat14also includes a restraint harness44coupled to seat bottom38and seat back40or any other suitable juvenile restraint means.

Swivel system16includes a swivel46and a swivel-direction controller48as shown diagrammatically inFIGS. 1-3. Swivel46is coupled to swivel-mount pad28of base12and to seat bottom38of juvenile seat14and is a device joining two parts so that one or both can pivot freely (as on a bolt or pin). Swivel-direction controller48is configured to provide means cooperating with swivel46for allowing juvenile seat14to rotate about vertical axis18in only one direction (selected by a caregiver) at a time. Thus, a caregiver can operate swivel-direction controller48to allow juvenile seat14to rotate about vertical axis18from the forward-facing travel position shown inFIG. 2in either (1) a clockwise direction51to assume the left-facing entry position shown inFIG. 1or (2) a counterclockwise direction52to assume the right-facing entry position shown inFIG. 3. An illustrative embodiment of swivel-direction controller48is shown inFIGS. 17-22.

Seat anchor20is coupled to top portion50of upright anchor-support pad30of base12as shown, for example, inFIGS. 4 and 9. Top portion50is formed to include a top wall54and front and back walls56,57depending from top wall54as shown inFIG. 9. Top wall54is formed to include a flag aperture58opening into an interior channel59formed between front and back walls56,57. Front wall56is arranged to face toward seat back40of juvenile seat14when juvenile seat14lies in the forward-facing travel position as shown inFIG. 12. Front wall56is formed to include an open window64associated with seat anchor20and swivel-status indicator24as shown inFIGS. 3,4, and9.

Seat anchor20includes an anchor bar66and a bar foundation68as shown inFIG. 9. Anchor bar66is arranged to project from interior channel59outwardly through open window64formed in front wall56so that anchor bar66can mate with seat-back lock22when juvenile seat14is moved to assume the forward-facing travel position as suggested inFIGS. 7 and 12. Bar foundation68is mounted in a stationary position, for example, in a region of interior channel59near open window64as suggested inFIG. 9. In an illustrative embodiment, bar foundation68is made of a rigid material such as steel.

As suggested inFIG. 9, anchor bar66has a first leg71coupled to bar foundation68, a second leg72arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first leg71and coupled to bar foundation68, and a U-shaped anchor rail73arranged to interconnect “free” ends of first and second legs71,72and lie generally outside of interior channel59. U-shaped anchor rail73includes a short first segment74coupled to first leg71, a short second segment75coupled to second leg72, and a relatively longer third segment76arranged to interconnect “free” ends of first and second segments74,75as suggested inFIGS. 6A and 9. Seat-back lock22is configured to mate with third segment76of U-shaped anchor rail73of anchor bar66as suggested inFIG. 12to retain juvenile seat14in the forward-facing travel position relative to base12.

Seat-back lock22is shown, for example, in FIGS.8and10-12. Seat-back lock22includes a movable hook80mounted for pivotable movement about a horizontal axis179on a pivot shaft79coupled to seat back40, a first hook-retainer latch81mounted for pivotable movement about another horizontal axis183on a pivot shaft83coupled to seat back40, and a second hook-retainer latch82mounted for pivotable movement about horizontal axis183on pivot shaft83′ (or a pivot shaft83) independent of pivotable first hook-retainer latch82. Seat-back lock22also includes a hook-return spring84coupled to hook80and seat back40, a first latch-return spring86coupled to first hook-retainer latch81and seat back40, and a second latch-return spring88coupled to second hook-retainer latch82and seat back40as suggested inFIGS. 5 and 10. In the illustrated embodiment, each of springs84,86, and88is a torsion spring.

Hook80includes an axle mount89coupled to pivot shaft79, an upstanding finger90cantilevered to axle mount89, a first flange plate91coupled to one side of axle mount89, and a second flange plate92coupled to another side of axle mount89as shown, for example, inFIG. 8. Finger90is arranged to lie between first and second flange plates91,92as shown, for example, inFIG. 8.

Hook80is mounted for movement on pivot shaft79relative to seat back14between an “unlocked” position shown, for example, inFIG. 10and a “locked” position shown, for example, inFIG. 12. In the unlocked position, hook80is disengaged from U-shaped anchor rail73of anchor bar66of stationary seat anchor20as suggested inFIG. 10to allow swiveling motion of juvenile seat14about vertical axis18relative to base12. In the locked position, hook80cooperates with seat back40of juvenile seat14to retain the relatively longer third segment76of U-shaped anchor rail73of anchor bar66of stationary seat anchor20as suggested inFIG. 10in a rearwardly opening groove94formed in seat back40and arranged to face toward stationary seat anchor20when juvenile seat14is moved to assume the forward-facing travel position as shown, for example, inFIG. 12. In the illustrated embodiment, in the locked position, upstanding finger90of hook80extends upwardly into a finger-receiving opening90′ defined by U-shaped anchor rail73and provided between U-shaped anchor rail73and front wall56of upper portion50of anchor support30of L-shaped base12as suggested inFIGS. 7 and 12.

As also shown inFIG. 8, first hook-retainer latch81includes an axle mount77coupled to pivot shaft83and configured to terminate at a downwardly extending tip181and a pivot actuator75coupled to axle mount77. Pivot actuator75is “roof-shaped” in an illustrative embodiment and includes a left-side cam surface85and a right-side cam surface87arranged to interconnect left-side cam surface85and axle mount77. Left-side and right-side cam surfaces85,87intersect at a raised ridge102. When viewed from above inFIG. 8, left-side cam surface85has a “negative” slope and right-side cam surface87has a “positive” slope. Similarly, second hook-retainer latch82includes an axle mount77′ coupled to pivot shaft83′ and configured to terminate at downwardly extending tip182and a pivot actuator75′ coupled to axle mount77′. Pivot actuator75′ includes left-side and right-side cam surfaces85′ and87′ and raised ridge102′. When viewed from above (inFIG. 8), left-side cam surface85′ has a negative slope and right-side cam surface87′ has a positive slope.

Seat back40of juvenile seat14is formed to include guide means10for guiding U-shaped anchor rail73of stationary seat anchor20to engage seat-back lock22mounted in seat back40during rotating movement of juvenile seat14about vertical axis18relative to base from either the left- or right-facing entry positions ofFIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, to the forward-facing travel position ofFIG. 2. In an illustrative embodiment, guide means110includes a first seat-anchor guide channel111formed in the right side of the rear portion of seat back40to communicate with a central opening114formed in seat back40to expose seat-back lock22as shown inFIGS. 4-7. Guide means110also includes a second seat-anchor guide channel112formed in the left side of the rear portion of seat back40also to communicate with central opening114as shown inFIGS. 4-7.

As suggested inFIGS. 5-7, seat-back lock22is exposed in central opening114that is formed in seat back40and arranged to lie between seat-anchor guide channels111and112. In an illustrative embodiment, first seat-anchor guide channel111is funnel-shaped and defined by upper and lower guide walls111aand111bconverging in a direction111dextending toward central opening114and a rear wall111cinterconnecting guide walls111aand111b. First seat anchor guide channel111provides means for guiding U-shaped anchor rail73of stationary seat anchor20to mate with finger90of hook80as juvenile seat14rotates in counterclockwise direction52relative to base12as suggested inFIGS. 5-7and10-12. Similarly, second seat-anchor guide channel112is funnel-shaped and defined by upper and lower guide walls112aand112bconverging in a direction112dextending toward central opening114and a rear wall112cinterconnecting guide walls112aand112b. Second seat-anchor guide channel112provides means for guiding U-shaped anchor rail73of stationary seat anchor20to mate with finger90of hook80as juvenile seat14rotates in clockwise direction51relative to base12.

An illustrative process for mating seat-back lock22to stationary seat anchor20is shown in a sequence illustrated inFIGS. 5-7and10-12. Seat-back lock22mates with stationary seat anchor20normally whenever juvenile seat14is rotated about vertical axis18either (1) from the left-facing entry position shown inFIG. 1in counterclockwise direction52to arrive at the forward-facing travel position shown inFIG. 2or (2) from the right-facing entry position shown inFIG. 3in clockwise direction51to arrive at the forward-facing travel position shown inFIG. 2. If, owing to an unexpected event, such mating does not take place in response to rotation of juvenile seat14, seat-back lock22will mate with stationary seat anchor20in response to movement of seat back40in a generally rearward direction100(seeFIGS. 10 and 11) toward upper portion50of anchor-support pad30of L-shaped base12owing to elasticity of juvenile seat14and/or to external force loads applied in direction100to juvenile seat14.

Hook80is shown in an “unlocked” position inFIGS. 6 and 10. First latch-return spring86provides means for yieldably urging first hook-retainer latch81to rotate in a counterclockwise direction60to cause a tip181of first hook-retainer latch81to engage first flange plate91of hook80to urge hook80to rotate in a clockwise direction61(against a torsional biasing force applied by hook-return spring84) to assume the unlocked position shown inFIG. 10. Similarly, second latch-return spring88provides means for yieldably urging second hook-retainer latch82to rotate in counterclockwise direction60(seeFIG. 8) to cause a tip182of second hook-retainer latch92to engage second flange plate92of hook80to urge hook80to rotate in a clockwise direction61(against the torsional biasing force applied by hook-return spring84). Hook80will stay in the unlocked position as long as one or both of spring-loaded first and second hook-retainer latches81,82engage the first and second flange plates91to hold hook80in the unlocked position as suggested inFIG. 10.

Swivel-status indicator24includes a signal unit102comprising a signal flag26and a flag lifter110coupled to signal flag26, first and second lifter-return springs111,112, and a flag-viewing shell114as shown, for example, inFIGS. 9,13, and14. Signal unit102is mounted for movement relative to base12between a first position representing an “unlocked” (swiveling) condition of juvenile seat14as shown, for example, inFIGS. 9 and 13and a second position representing a “locked” (non-swivel) condition of juvenile seat14as shown, for example, inFIGS. 12 and 14.

Flag lifter110includes a vertically extending flag support116and a horizontally extending lift tab118coupled to a lower end of flag support116as shown best inFIG. 9. Flag support16is mounted for back-and-forth (e.g. up-and-down) movement in internal channel59of top portion50of anchor-support pad30of base12. Lift tab118is coupled to flag-support116for up-and-down movement in open window64of front wall56of top portion50in response to up-and-down movement of flag support116in internal channel59. In an illustrative embodiment, one signal flag26is carried on a front face of flag support116and another signal flag26is carried on a back face of flag support116.

Flag-viewing shell114is made of a transparent material and includes a frame120mounted in a stationary position in internal channel59of top portion50and a dome119coupled to frame120and arranged to extend through flag aperture58formed in top wall54of top portion50. Dome119of flag-viewing shell114rises above top portion50of base12as shown, for example, inFIGS. 9,13, and14.

First and second lifter-return springs121,122act between, for example, a portion of shell114and flanges131,132coupled to flag support116and included in flag lifter110as shown inFIGS. 13 and 14. Each lifter-return spring121,122is a coiled compression spring in an illustrative embodiment. Normally, lifter-return springs121,122cooperate to define means for yieldably urging flag lifter110downwardly to assume a lowered position in internal channel59as shown inFIGS. 9 and 13. In this lowered position, signal flags26are located in a hidden (e.g. “not-visible”) position inside base12.

Finger90of hook80moves to engage the underside of lift tab118of flag lifter110and move flag lifter110upwardly to a raised position in internal channel59as shown inFIGS. 8 and 10whenever juvenile seat14is rotated about vertical axis18to assume the forward-facing travel position. Upward movement of flag lifter110raises signal flags127to a “visible” position above base12and inside dome119of flag-viewing shell114as shown inFIGS. 12 and 14.

An illustrative hook-release controller153is coupled to first armrest41and is shown, for example, inFIGS. 15 and 16. Hook-release controller153includes an actuator lever156mounted for pivotable movement on a pivot post158coupled to a housing160mounted in an aperture162formed in armrest41. Hook-release controller153also includes a return spring164coupled to housing160and actuator lever156. Return spring164is configured to provide means for yieldably moving actuator lever156from an extended position shown away from housing160inFIG. 16to a retracted position in housing160shown inFIG. 15whenever a caregiver166releases actuator lever156.

An illustrative linkage154includes a tube168coupled to housing160and a control wire170extending through a passageway formed in tube168as suggested inFIGS. 15 and 16. Control wire170is coupled at one end to actuator lever156as suggested inFIGS. 15 and 16and at an opposite end to axle mount89of hook80as shown inFIGS. 10-12. Pivoting movement of actuator lever156about pivot post158in direction172as suggested inFIG. 16pulls on control wire170to cause hook80to pivot from the locked position shown inFIG. 12to the unlocked position shown inFIG. 10. Spring-loaded hook-retainer latches81,82engage plate flanges91,92on hook80to retain hook80in that unlocked position until hook-retainer latches81,82later engage U-shaped anchor rail73of stationary seat anchor20during swiveling motion of juvenile seat14toward the forward-facing travel position shown inFIGS. 2,7, and12.

Illustrative embodiments of swivel46and swivel-direction controller48are shown inFIGS. 17-22. Swivel46is coupled to juvenile seat14to support juvenile seat14for swiveling motion about axis18. Swivel46includes a seat mount178coupled to juvenile seat14(as suggested diagrammatically inFIG. 17) and a rotatable member (e.g. ring)180mounted in swivel-mount pad28of base12for rotation about axis18and coupled to seat mount178to support seat mount178for rotation about axis18. A return spring181is coupled to spring mount182and to rotatable ring180and configured to provide automatic means for yieldably rotating ring180(when juvenile seat14is released) relative to base12about axis18to assume the forward-facing travel position ofFIG. 2as suggested inFIGS. 17,19, and21.

Swivel-direction controller48illustratively includes a first anti-rotation stop184coupled to the underside of rotatable ring180and a second anti-rotation stop185coupled to the underside of rotatable ring180. Stops184and185are arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another to define a block-receiving space186therebetween as suggested inFIGS. 17,20, and22. In an illustrative embodiment, each stop184,185is triangle-shaped and includes a straight wall187defining a lateral boundary of block-receiving space186.

Block mover196of direction-selector switch190is mounted for “back-and-forth” movement (under the control of a caregiver) relative to bottom plate188(only when child restraint10is inverted) to cause rotation-inhibitor block194to move relative to rotatable member (e.g. ring)180between a first position shown inFIGS. 18-20and a second position shown inFIGS. 21 and 22. During such back-and-forth movement, rotation-inhibitor block194is constrained to cause block194to remain in block-receiving space186. During such movement, rotation-inhibitor block194will engage wall187of first anti-rotation stop184to block rotation of rotatable ring180about axis18in second direction202and allow rotation of rotatable ring180only in first direction201as suggested inFIGS. 19 and 20. Also during such back-and-forth movement, rotation-inhibitor block194will engage wall187of second anti-rotation stop185to block rotation of rotatable ring180about axis18in first direction201and allow rotation of rotatable ring180only in second direction202as suggested inFIGS. 21 and 22.

Child restraint10includes a seat support11, a juvenile seat14, and a swivel-direction controller48. Seat support11includes a base12adapted to set on a vehicle seat and a swivel46coupled to base12. Juvenile seat14is mounted on swivel46for swiveling motion on an arc A1, A2relative to base12about an axis of rotation18along a first portion A1of the arc between a left-facing entry position200L and a forward-facing travel position200F and along a second portion A2of the arc between forward-facing travel position200F and a right-facing entry position200R. Swivel-direction controller48is coupled to base12and configured to cooperate with base12to provide means for selectively allowing swiveling motion of juvenile seat14relative to base12along one of the first portion A1of the arc to permit movement of juvenile seat14back and forth between left-facing entry position200L and forward-facing travel position200F and the second portion A2of the arc to permit movement of juvenile seat14back and forth between forward-facing travel position200F and right-facing entry position200R so that swiveling motion of juvenile seat14is limited to only one of the first and second portions A1, A2of the arc at a time.

Swivel-direction controller48includes a rotatable member180mounted for rotation in base12about axis of rotation18, a seat mount178, first and second anti-rotation stops184,185, and a direction-selector switch190. Seat mount178is coupled to rotatable member180to rotate therewith about axis of rotation18and coupled to juvenile seat14to support juvenile seat14for swiveling motion about axis of rotation18.

First anti-rotation stop184is located a first distance D1from axis of rotation18and second anti-rotation stop185is located a lesser second distance D2from axis of rotation18a suggested inFIG. 22. First anti-rotation stop184is coupled to rotatable member180and associated with the first portion A1of the arc. Second anti-rotation stop185is coupled to rotatable member180and associated with the second portion A2of the arc. Direction-selector switch190is mounted for movement relative to base12at the option of a caregiver to engage one of the first anti-rotation stop184to allow swiveling motion of juvenile seat14along the second portion A2of the arc and block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14along the first portion A1of the arc and the second anti-rotation stop185to allow swiveling motion of juvenile seat14along the first portion A1of the arc and block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14along the second portion A2of the arc.

Direction-selector switch190includes a block mover196mounted for movement relative to base12and a rotation-inhibitor block194coupled to block mover196for movement therewith. Rotation-inhibitor block194is constrained to move in a block-receiving space186provided between first and second anti-rotation stops184,185between a first position shown inFIG. 19and a second position shown inFIG. 21.

In the first position shown inFIG. 19, rotation-inhibitor block194is positioned to engage first anti-rotation stop184on rotatable member180upon arrival of juvenile seat14at forward-facing travel position200F to positively stop juvenile seat14in the forward-facing travel position200F and to block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14from left-facing entry position200L toward right-facing entry position200R. Thus, mating engagement of rotation-inhibitor block194and first anti-rotation stop184positively establishes the forward-facing travel position200F of juvenile seat14during swiveling motion of juvenile seat14.

In the second position shown inFIG. 21, rotation-inhibitor block194is positioned to engage second anti-rotation stop185on rotatable member180upon arrival of juvenile seat14at forward-facing travel position200F to positively stop juvenile seat14in the forward-facing travel position200F and to block swiveling motion of juvenile seat14along the second portion A2of the arc during swiveling motion of juvenile seat14on the arc from right-facing entry position20OR toward left-racing entry position200L. Thus, mating engagement of rotation-inhibitor block194and second anti-rotation stop185positively establishes the forward-facing travel position200F of juvenile seat14during swiveling motion of juvenile seat14.

Base12includes a bottom plate188adapted to set on a vehicle seat and formed to include an opening189exposing a grip tab192included in block mover196. Grip tab192is configured to be gripped by a user and moved in opening189to cause rotation-inhibitor block194to move in block-receiving space186between the first and second positions only when base12and juvenile seat14are inverted.

Block mover196includes a plate191formed to include a bottom side193and a top side195. Grip tab92is arranged to extend through opening189formed in base12during movement of rotation-inhibitor block194between the first and second positions. Rotation-inhibitor block194is coupled to top side195of plate191as suggested inFIG. 17.

Base12includes a bottom plate188and a foundation179coupled to bottom plate88and arranged to lie between juvenile seat14and bottom plate188as suggested inFIG. 17. Rotatable member180is positioned to lie in a space provided between foundation179and bottom plate188. Rotatable member180is formed to include a bottom surface facing toward bottom plate188and carrying first and second anti-rotation stops184,185. Block mover196and the rotation-inhibitor block194are arranged to move relative to rotatable member180in a space provided between rotatable member180and bottom plate188.

Child restraint10further includes spring means (shown diagrammatically inFIGS. 17,20, and22) for yieldably urging rotatable member180to rotate in a first direction301(seeFIG. 20) to cause first anti-rotation stop184on rotatable member180to engage rotation-inhibitor block194of direction-selector switch190when rotation-inhibitor block194is moved to assume the first position shown inFIG. 19. Spring means also yieldably urges rotatable member180to rotate in an opposite second direction302(seeFIG. 22) to cause second anti-rotation stop185on rotatable member180to engage rotation-inhibitor block194of direction-selector switch190when rotation-inhibitor block194is moved to assume the second position shown inFIG. 21so that juvenile seat14is swiveled to assume forward-facing travel position200F after juvenile seat14is moved by a caregiver relative to base12to assume one of the left-facing and right-facing entry positions200L,200R and then released.

In a variant of the different embodiments previously described, we anticipate a child restraint according to the invention and comprising indexing means, controlling the rotation of the seat and forming a stop, so as to guarantee the proper positioning of the seat in the utilization position when it is pivoted in that direction.

Another embodiment is shown inFIGS. 13aand13b, in which the pivoting seat131has two stops1311and1312on its lower part. One mobile stop132, affixed to the base (not shown), is intended to cooperate with stop1311or stop1312in the utilization position, in such a way as to guarantee that seat131is correctly positioned in the utilization position, and that the fixation system of the upper part of the backrest of seat131and the base lock correctly.

The mobile stop132may assume two positions depending on whether the child car seat is placed on the left or the right side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

When the seat is placed on the left side of the vehicle, the mobile stop132is placed in the position shown inFIG. 13a. Seat131can then be pivoted in the direction of arrow C1until it arrives in the utilization position in which mobile stop132cooperates with stop1312so that seat131is correctly positioned in the utilization position and so that the fixation system locks correctly. Seat131may be brought to the installation position by pivoting it in the direction of arrow C2.

When the child car seat is placed to the right side of the vehicle, mobile stop132is placed in the position shown inFIG. 13b. Seat131can then be pivoted in the direction of arrow B1until it arrives at the utilization position in which mobile stop132cooperates with stop1311so that the seat131is correctly positioned in the utilization position and the fixation system locks correctly. Seat131may be brought to the installation position by pivoting it in the direction for arrow B2.

The inclined face of stops1311,1312automatically permit the bringing of mobile stop132to the correct position (FIG. 9aor9b) is a user due to misuse does not position it correctly.