Patent Publication Number: US-9849812-B2

Title: Child safety seat assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Divisional Patent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/158,508 filed on Jan. 17, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/753,954 filed on Jan. 18, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relate to child safety seat assemblies. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Current safety regulations require the use of a child safety seat to seat a young child in a vehicle for protecting the child during crash collision. In particular, when it is installed in a car, the child safety seat may have rear anchor latches that can attach to an anchorage fixture provided at the rear passenger&#39;s seat. Moreover, some child safety seats may further include a top tether assembled with the seatback of the child safety seat, and a support leg at the bottom of its base. The anchor latches, the top tether and the support leg can provide different points of attachment and abutment to restrict movement of the child safety seat so that it can protect a child when car collision occurs. 
     However, the aforementioned attachment is usually designed to provide a tight hold of the child safety seat, and the energy resulting from a crash collision may be substantially transmitted to the child and cause injury: for example, excessive pressure applied by the restraint harness of the child safety seat may cause injuries at the neck and chest of the child. In case of violent collision, rupture of the top tether may even happen, which may cause flipping of the child safety seat. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a child safety seat that is safer in use, and can address at least the aforementioned issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes child safety seat assemblies including cushion parts that can dissipate a part of the collision energy when car collision occurs. In one embodiment, the child safety seat assembly includes a shell body for defining a support base attachable to a child seat, a leg frame coupled with the shell body and operable to extend downward from a bottom of the shell body, and a cushion part. The leg frame includes a first and a second tube segment attached with each other, the first tube segment being further affixed with a fastener. The cushion part is affixed in the second tube segment adjacent to the fastener, and is formed as an integral hollow body including a first, a second and a third sidewall. The first sidewall faces the fastener, and the second and third sidewalls respectively include inward recessed surfaces and are respectively connected with two side edges of the first sidewall. When the second tube segment and the cushion part are forced to displace in unison relative to the first tube segment and the fastener, the fastener and the first sidewall push against each other to cause deformation of the cushion part. 
     In another embodiment, the child safety seat assembly includes a shell body, a leg frame coupled with the shell body and operable to extend downward from a bottom of the shell body, and a cushion part. The leg frame includes a first and a second tube segment attached with each other, the first tube segment being further affixed with a fastener. The cushion part is affixed in the second tube segment adjacent to the fastener, and is formed as an integral hollow body having an inner cavity. The hollow body includes two opposite end portions, and a first, a second and a third sidewall respectively extending between the two end portions, the first sidewall facing the fastener, and the second and third sidewalls respectively including inward recessed surfaces and being respectively connected with two side edges of the first sidewall. When the second tube segment and the cushion part are forced to displace in unison relative to the first tube segment and the fastener, the fastener and the first sidewall push against each other to cause bending deformation of the first sidewall toward the inner cavity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of an anchor latch with a support base in the child safety seat assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the construction of a cushion part in the support base shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of assembling the cushion part in the support base; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are schematic views illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of a child safety seat assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a cushion part provided in the child safety seat assembly shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating the cushion part shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are schematic views illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating another variant embodiment of a child safety seat assembly; 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are schematic views illustrating the assembly of an anchor latch, a strap assembly and a cushion part in the child safety seat assembly shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are schematic views illustrating another embodiment of a child safety seat assembly; and 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic view illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part in the leg frame shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present application describes child safety seat assemblies that include a support base, and a child seat arranged on the support base. The support base and/or the child seat can include an anchor latch that can attach to an anchorage fixture provided in a vehicle to prevent movement of the child safety seat assembly relative to a passenger&#39;s seat. In one embodiment, the support base and/or the child seat can include a cushioning structure that is assembled adjacent to the anchor latch and includes a cushion part and a fastener. The cushion part can have a hollow body integrally formed in a single piece that has a first, a second and a third sidewall, the second and third walls respectively having inward recessed surfaces and being connected with two opposite edges of the first sidewall. The cushion part is arranged such that the first sidewall adjacently faces the fastener. When car collision occurs, the cushion structure is operable to allow a cushioned displacement relative to the anchor latch. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat assembly  100 . The child safety seat assembly  100  can include a child seat  102  and a support base  104 . The child seat  102  can be detachably assembled with the support base  104 , and can include a seat portion  106  and a backrest portion  108  that define a comfortable and safe seating space. The support base  102  can include a plurality of anchor latches  110  that can fasten to an anchorage fixture  112  of a vehicle. Once the child seat  102  is installed on the support base  104 , the support base  104  can provide stable support on a vehicle seat, and the anchor latches  110  can engage with the anchorage fixture  112  to restrict displacement of the child safety seat assembly  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of the anchor latch  110  with the support base  104 . The support base  104  can include a shell body  114  to which are assembled two extension arms  116  and two anchor latches  110 . The shell body  114  can be exemplary formed by plastic molded parts. The extension arms  116  can be constructed as tubular structures, and can be assembled at a rear of the support base  104  transversally spaced apart from each other. Each of the extension arm  116  can have a first end portion connected with the shell body  114 , and a second end portion extending rearward from support base  104  and affixed with one anchor latch  110 . In some embodiment, the extension arms  116  can also be movable forth and back relative to the shell body  114  to adjust a distance between the anchor latches  110  and the rear of the shell body  114 . 
     Each of the anchor latches  110  can be affixed with the corresponding extension arm  116 . Each anchor latch  110  can include a frame  120  and a fastening mechanism  122  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG. 2 ) assembled with each other. The fastening mechanism  122  can exemplary include a hook that can engage with the anchorage fixture  112 . 
     For assembling the extension arm  116  with the anchor latch  110 , the extension arm  116  can include a slot  124  having an elongated shape. For example, the slot  124  can be formed through the tubular structure of the extension arm  116 , and can extend along a longitudinal axis of the extension arm  116 . A fastener  126  can be engaged through the frame  120  of the anchor latch  110  and the slot  124  of the extension arm  116  to affix the frame  120  with the tubular structure of the extension arm  116 . Examples of the fastener  126  can include a rivet or bolt. 
     In one embodiment, the fastener  126  can be tightly engaged through the slot  124  of the extension arm  116 : for example, a height H of the slot  124  can be substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a width of the fastener  126 . Accordingly, the fastener  126  can be affixed with the extension arm  116  once it engages through the slot  124 . Owing to the elongated shape of the slot  124 , the occurrence of car collision can force the fastener  126  in the child safety seat assembly  100  to move along the slot  124  and press against a cushion part  130 . The assembly and interaction of the cushion part  130  with the fastener  126  can provide a cushioning structure adjacent to each anchor latch  110  of the child safety seat assembly  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the construction of the cushion part  130 . The cushion part  130  can have a hollow body  132  formed integrally in a single piece. The hollow body  132  can include an inner cavity  134  that extends from a first end portion  132 A to a second end portion  132 B of the hollow body  132 . Moreover, the hollow body  132  can include a plurality of sidewalls, such as 4 sidewalls  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 . The sidewalls  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  can surround the inner cavity  134 , and extend from the first end portion  132 A to the second end portion  132 B of the hollow body  132 . The sidewalls  136  and  138  are located at two opposite sides of the inner cavity  134 , and the sidewalls  140  and  142  are located at two other opposite sides of the inner cavity  134  and respectively connect with two opposite side edges of the sidewalls  136  and  138 . The cushion part  130 , including the hollow body  132  and the sidewalls  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 , can be made of a metallic material or plastics material. 
     It will be appreciated that the cushion part is not limited to the aforementioned shape having 4 sidewalls, and may have other shapes, such as a triangular shape, a polygonal shape having 5 sidewalls, a hexagonal shape, a cylindrical shape, etc. 
     The sidewalls  140  and  142  can include inward recessed surfaces  144  symmetrical to each other. The inward recessed surface  144  can be arranged in a middle region of each of the sidewalls  140  and  142  between the two end portions  132 A and  132 B of the hollow body  132 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inward recessed surface  144  can have an arc shape, which can prevent the occurrence of cracks induced by a stress concentration when the cushion part  130  is subject to deformation. The occurrence of such cracks may affect the ability of the cushion part  130  to absorb collision energy. Moreover, each of the sidewalls  140  and  142  can further include an opening  146  formed through the inward recessed surface  144  and communicating with the inner cavity  134 . The inner cavity  134 , inward recessed surfaces  144  and openings  146  may be configured to allow the cushion part  130  to plastically deform for absorbing collision energy. 
     The cushion part  130  can be affixed in the extension arm  116  adjacent to the fastener  126 . In one embodiment, the cushion part  130  can be affixed vertically in the extension arm  116 , i.e., the end portions  132 A and  132 B are arranged along a vertical direction. Fasteners  148  can be respectively engaged through the extension arm  116  and end portions  132 A and  132 B of the cushion arm  130  to fixedly assemble the cushion arm  130  with the extension arm  116 . When the cushion part  130  is fixedly assembled, the sidewall  136  can face the fastener  126 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one variant embodiment may have the cushion part  130  affixed in the extension arm  116  at a position that partially overlaps with the slot  124 , the cushion part  130  being in contact with the fastener  126  (i.e., the sidewall  136  contacting with the fastener  126 ). In this configuration, the cushion part  130  can assist to affix the fastener  126  in place for attaching the extension arm  116  with the anchor latch  110 . 
     The assembly of the cushion part  130  as described previously may be similar in each of the two extension arms  116 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are schematic views illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part  130 . When a vehicle installed with the child safety seat assembly  100  is subject to collision, each of the extension arms  116  can be urged to move relative to the anchor latch  110  and the fastener  126  assembled thereto. As a result, the fastener  126  can be urged to move in unison with the anchor latch  110  along the slot  124  relative to the cushion part  130  and the extension arm  116 , which causes the fastener  126  and the sidewall  136  to push against each other. The cushion part  130  thereby plastically deforms, which results in a cushioning displacement of the extension arm  116  relative to the anchor latch  110 . The region where the fastener  126  contacts and pushes against the sidewall  136  can be located at the middle of the hollow body  132  between the two end portions  132 A and  132 B, and more particularly adjacent to the inward recessed surfaces  144  of the sidewalls  140  and  142 . The pressure applied by the fastener  126  can cause the sidewall  136  to bend inward the inner cavity  134  of the hollow body  132 , which can dissipate a portion of the collision energy and reduce the risk of injuries to the child sitting on the child safety seat assembly  100 . 
     It is worth noting that more cushion parts  130  may be assembled in each extension arm  116  to increase the cushioning effects. When collision occurs, the multiple cushion parts  130  may be pushed against one or more fastener  126  to produce a cushioned displacement of the extension arms  116  relative to the anchor latches  110 . 
       FIGS. 7-9  are schematic views illustrating a variant embodiment of a child safety seat assembly  100 ′. The child safety seat assembly  100 ′ can have a construction similar to the embodiment described previously. However, the child safety seat assembly  100 ′ may additionally include a transversal bar  160  disposed between the two extension arms  116 . The transversal bar  160  can extend transversally, and have two opposite end portions respectively connected with the cushion parts  130  in the two extension arms  116 . In one embodiment, the transversal bar  160  and the two cushion parts  130  can be formed integrally in a single piece. Moreover, this embodiment can have each cushion part  130  respectively arranged in a horizontal position in the corresponding extension arm  116 , i.e., the attachment points of the end portions  132 A and  132 B can be distributed horizontally. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are schematic views illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion parts  130  in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . When a vehicle installed with the child safety seat assembly  100 ′ is subject to collision, each of the extension arms  116  can be urged to move relative to the anchor latch  110  and fastener  126  assembled thereto. As a result, the fastener  126  can be urged to move in unison with the anchor latch  110  along the slot  124  relative to the cushion part  130  and the extension arm  116 , which causes the fastener  126  and the sidewall  136  to push against each other. The cushion part  130  thereby plastically deforms, which results in a cushioning displacement of the extension arm  116  relative to the anchor latch  110 . The region where the fastener  126  contacts and pushes against the sidewall  136  can be located at the middle of the hollow body  132  between the two end portions  132 A and  132 B, and more particularly adjacent to the inward recessed surfaces  144  of the sidewalls  140  and  142 . The pressure applied by the fastener  126  can cause the sidewall  136  to bend inward the inner cavity  134  of the hollow body  132 , which can dissipate a portion of the collision energy and reduce the risk of injuries to the child sitting on the child safety seat assembly  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-11 , owing to connection between the transversal bar  160  and the two cushion parts  130 , the transversal bar  160  can be grasped to position the two cushion parts  130  in or remove them from the extension arms  116  in a concurrent manner. Accordingly, assembly and removal of the two cushion parts  130  can be facilitated. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of a child safety seat assembly  200 . Like the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the child safety seat assembly  200  can include the child seat  102  and the support base  104 . The support base  104  can include two extension arms  116  respectively assembled with two anchor latches  110 . When the child safety seat assembly  200  is installed on a vehicle seat, the anchor latches  110  can engage with the anchorage fixture  112  to restrict displacement of the child safety seat assembly  200 . Moreover, the extension arms  116  of the child safety seat assembly  200  can be respectively assembled with cushion parts  130  that allow cushioned displacement of the extension arms  116  and the support base  104  relative to the anchor latches  110 . The cushion parts  130  can be similar to the embodiment described in  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     Moreover, the child safety seat assembly  200  can further include an anchoring tether  210  connected with an upper portion of the backrest portion  108  of the child seat  102 . When the child safety seat assembly  200  is installed on a vehicle seat, the anchoring tether  110  can engage with a fixed anchorage of the vehicle (not shown) so as to prevent displacement or flipping of the child safety seat assembly  200  when car collision occurs. In one embodiment, the anchoring tether  210  can include a strap assembly  212 , an anchor latch  214  and a cushion part  230 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  are schematic views illustrating the construction of the anchoring tether  210  in more details. The anchor latch  214  can include a frame  220  and fastening mechanism  222  assembled with each other. The fastening mechanism  222  can exemplary include a hook that can engage with a fixed anchorage of the vehicle. The anchor latch  214  can be affixed with a fastener  226  and the cushion part  230 . Examples of the fastener  226  can include a rivet or bolt. The cushion part  230  can be affixed in an interior of the anchor latch  214  adjacent to the fastener  226 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the cushion part  230  can be similar to the cushion part  130  in structure. More specifically, the cushion part  230  can have a hollow body  232  formed integrally in a single piece. The hollow body  232  can include an inner cavity  234  that extends from a first end portion  232 A to a second end portion  232 B of the hollow body  232 . Moreover, the hollow body  232  can include a plurality of sidewalls  236 ,  238 ,  240 ,  242 . The sidewalls  236 ,  238 ,  240 ,  242  can surround the inner cavity  34 , and extend from the first end portion  232 A to the second end portion  232 B of the hollow body  232 . The sidewalls  236  and  238  are located at two opposite sides of the inner cavity  234 , and the sidewalls  240  and  242  are located at two other opposite sides of the inner cavity  234  and respectively connect with two opposite side edges of the sidewalls  236  and  238 . The cushion part  230 , including the hollow body  232  and the sidewalls  236 ,  238 ,  240 ,  242 , can be made of a metallic material or plastics material. 
     The sidewalls  240  and  242  can respectively include inward recessed surfaces  244  symmetrical to each other. The inward recessed surface  244  can be arranged in a middle region on each of the sidewalls  240  and  242  between the two end portions  232 A and  232 B. Moreover, each of the sidewalls  240  and  242  can further include an opening  246  formed through the inward recessed surface  244  and communicating with the inner cavity  234 . 
     The cushion part  230  can be affixed in the anchor latch  214  at a position adjacent to the fastener  226 . For example, each of the two end portions  232 A and  232 B can respectively include a slot  248 , and fasteners  250  can respectively engage through the slots  248  to affix the cushion part  230  with the anchor latch  214 . Once the cushion part  230  is fixedly assembled in the anchor latch  214 , the sidewall  236  can face the fastener  226 . 
     The strap assembly  212  can have a first end portion  212 A connected with the backrest portion  108 , and a second end portion  212 B connected with the cushion part  230 . In particular, the second end portion  212 B can pass through the inner cavity  234  and wrap around the cushion part  230 . Moreover, the strap assembly  212  can further include a length adjusting member  252  for changing a strap length between the first end portion  212 A and the anchor latch  214 . 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic view illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part  230 . When a vehicle installed with the child safety seat assembly  200  is subject to collision, the strap assembly  212  can be pulled and tensioned by the child safety seat assembly  200 . As a result, the strap assembly  212  can apply a pulling force on the cushion part  230 , which urges the cushion part  230  to move relative to the anchor latch  214  toward the fastener  226 . Owing to the displacement of the cushion part  230 , the fastener  250  may move along the slots  248 . Consequently, the fastener  226  and the sidewall  236  of the cushion part  230  are pushed against each other, and the cushion part  230  plastically deforms resulting in a cushioning displacement of the strap assembly  212  relative to the anchor latch  214 . The region where the fastener  226  contacts and pushes against the sidewall  236  can be located at the middle of the hollow body  232  between the two end portions  232 A and  232 B, and more particularly adjacent to the inward recessed surfaces  244  of the sidewalls  240  and  242 . The pressure applied by the fastener  226  can cause the sidewall  236  to bend inward the inner cavity  234  of the hollow body  232 , which can dissipate a portion of the collision energy and reduce the risk of injuries to the child sitting on the child safety seat assembly  200 . 
     It is worth noting that more cushion parts  230  may be assembled with the anchor latch  214  to increase the cushioning effects. When collision occurs, the multiple cushion parts  20  may be pushed against one or more fastener  226  to produce a cushioned displacement of the strap assembly  212  relative to the anchor latches  214 . 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  are schematic views illustrating another embodiment of a child safety seat assembly  300 . Like previously described, the child safety seat assembly  300  can include the child seat  102  and the support base  104 . The support base  104  can further include a retractable leg frame  310  coupled with the shell body  114 . The leg frame  310  can be operable to extend from a bottom of the shell body  114 . When the child safety seat assembly  300  is placed in a vehicle, the leg frame  310  can be positioned to abut against a floor of the vehicle. The leg frame  310  may prevent flipping of the child safety seat assembly  300  when collision occurs. 
     In one embodiment, the leg frame  310  can include two tube segments  312  and  134 . The tube segment  312  can be respectively affixed with a coupling part  316  and a fastener  318 . The tube segment  314  can be fixedly assembled through the coupling part  316 . Moreover, the tube segment  314  can further be assembled with the cushion part  130  as described in  FIG. 3 . The cushion part  130  can be affixed in the interior of the tube segment  314  adjacent to the fastener  318 , the sidewall  136  of the cushion part  130  facing the fastener  318 . 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic view illustrating a cushioning action of the cushion part  130  in the leg frame  310 . When a vehicle installed with the child safety seat assembly  200  is subject to collision, the two tube segments  312  and  314  may be forced to move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of the leg frame  310 . As a result, the sidewall  136  and the fastener  318  are forced to push against each other, which causes the cushion part  230  to plastically deform and results in a cushioning displacement of the tube segment  312  relative to the tube segment  314 . The region where the fastener  318  contacts and pushes against the sidewall  136  can be located at the middle of the hollow body  132  between the two end portions  132 A and  132 B, and more particularly adjacent to the inward recessed surfaces  144  of the sidewalls  140  and  142 . The pressure applied by the fastener  318  can cause the sidewall  136  to bend inward the inner cavity  134  of the hollow body  132 , which can dissipate a portion of the collision energy and reduce the risk of injuries to the child sitting on the child safety seat assembly  300 . 
     It is worth noting that the leg frame  310  provided with the cushion part  130  can also be used in combination with any of the structures described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-6, 7-9 and 12-15 , so that cushioning capabilities may be provided along different directions. 
     Advantages of the child safety seat assemblies described herein include the ability to provide cushion parts at different attachment locations of the child safety seat assembly that can effectively dissipate a part of the collision energy when car collision occurs. Accordingly, the risk of child injury may be reduced, and the child safety seat assembly can be safer in use. 
     Realizations of the child safety seat assemblies have 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.