Patent Publication Number: US-11660988-B2

Title: Support base for a child safety seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/846,315 filed on Apr. 11, 2020, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/995,710 filed on Jun. 1, 2018, which respectively claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/513,759 filed on Jun. 1, 2017 and to U.S. provisional application No. 62/547,397 filed on Aug. 18, 2017, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entireties herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to support bases for child safety seats. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Child safety seats currently available on the market may include a child seat that can be attached to a support base for easy installation on a vehicle seat. Different approaches have been proposed for restrictedly positioning the support base on a vehicle seat. For example, the support base may be fastened on a vehicle seat with the vehicle safety belt or latch devices provided on the support base. When the vehicle safety belt is used as attachment method, the vehicle safety belt is usually wrapped transversally across the support base and anchored with a clamping device provided at a central position on the support base. With this attachment method, the shoulder belt portion of the vehicle safety belt may stretch relatively freely across the support base, which may result in undesirable interference with a child seat installed on the support base. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved design that can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner, and address at least the foregoing issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes a support base for a child safety seat. The support base includes a shell, a belt clamp and a latching mechanism. The shell is adapted to receive a child seat thereon, and has a panel at an end thereof and a belt anchoring region adjacent to the panel, the belt anchoring region including a first and a second surface, the second surface being supported by the panel and connected with the first surface. The belt clamp is pivotally connected with the shell, and is operable to clamp a first and a second belt portion respectively adjacent to the first and second surface. The latching mechanism is operable to lock the belt clamp in a clamping state. 
     According to another aspect, the support base described herein includes a shell, a belt clamp and a latching mechanism. The shell is adapted to receive a child seat thereon, and has a panel at an end thereof and a belt anchoring region adjacent to the panel, the belt anchoring region including a first and a second surface, the second surface being supported by the panel and connected with the first surface. The belt clamp is pivotally connected with the shell and has a belt retaining structure, the belt clamp being operable to clamp a lap belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the first surface, and the belt retaining structure being adapted to hold a shoulder belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the second surface when the lap belt portion is clamped adjacent to the first surface. The latching mechanism is operable to lock the belt clamp in a clamping state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a support base for a child safety seat; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of two hooks in the support base; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating exemplary installation of a vehicle safety belt that is attached with an anchoring system provided in the support base shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating a variant construction of an anchoring system provided in a support base for its attachment on a vehicle seat with a vehicle safety belt; 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged side view illustrating the anchoring system provided in the support base shown in  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating exemplary installation of a vehicle safety belt that is attached to the support base with the anchoring system shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view illustrating a variant construction of an anchoring system provided in the support base for its attachment on a vehicle seat with a vehicle safety belt, the anchoring system being in a clamping state; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view illustrating the anchoring system shown in  FIG.  7    in a release state; and 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a latching mechanism for locking a belt clamp of the anchoring system shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8    in a clamping state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a support base  100  for a child safety seat. Referring to  FIG.  1   , the support base  100  can include a shell  102 . The shell  102  can include one or more rigid casing portions attached to each other. Exemplary materials suitable for making the shell  102  may include rigid plastic materials. The shell  102  can have a bottom surface  104  suitable for placement on a vehicle seat, and an upper surface  106  suitable for receiving the installation of a child seat (not shown). For example, the upper surface  106  can include a plurality of cavities  108  respectively provided with a plurality of hooks  110  that can engage with corresponding portions of a child seat to lock the child seat in position. In some embodiments, the upper surface  106  may be carried by a sliding platform  112  movable back and forth relative to a lower portion of the shell  102  for adjustment of a child seat installed on the support base  100 , and the hooks  110  may be assembled with the sliding platform  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, the shell  102  may exemplary include four hooks  110  distributed symmetrically along two rows. 
     In conjunction with  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating the assembly of two hooks  110  along a same row. Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the two hooks  110  along a same row can be respectively connected pivotally with the sliding platform  112  about two pivot axes extending transversally from a left to a right side of the support base  100 . The hooks  110  can thereby rotate relative to the sliding platform  112  between a locking state and an unlocking state. Each hook  110  can be respectively biased toward the locking state by a separate spring  114 . The spring  114  can be disposed around the pivot axis of the hook  110 , and can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the hook  110  and the sliding platform  112 . Moreover, the two hooks  110  along the same row can further be connected with a linking bar  116  that is assembled with the sliding platform  112  for back and forth sliding movements. For example, each of the two hooks  110  can respectively have a stud  118  that is movably connected with the linking bar  116 . The linking bar  116  can thereby slide in a direction D 1  to urge the two hooks  110  in rotation to the unlocking state against the biasing force applied by the springs  114 . 
     The two other hooks  110  may be respectively connected with two springs  114  and another linking bar  116  like described previously. For facilitating concurrent unlocking of the four hooks  110 , the two linking bars  116  can be respectively coupled with a release button (not shown), e.g., an end  116 A of each linking bar  116  can be connected with the release button via a cable (not shown). Actuation of the release button can thereby urge the two linking bars  116  to slide in parallel in the direction D 1  to cause concurrent unlocking rotation of the four hooks  110 . 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , an end  102 A of the shell  102  can have a panel  120  rising upright. The panel  120  can have a surface  122  on an inner side facing a region of the support base  100  where a child seat can be installed, and another surface  124  on an outer side opposite to the surface  122 . According to an embodiment, the panel  120  can be fixedly connected with the shell  102 . The support base  100  can be installed on a vehicle seat with the end  102 A of the shell  102  and the panel  120  adjacent to the seatback of the vehicle seat. When car collision occurs, the panel  120  (in particular the surface  124  of the panel  120 ) can offer an enlarged contact area against the seatback of the vehicle seat to prevent undesirable rebound of the child safety seat. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the support base  100  may include two latch devices  126  operable to releasably engage with an anchor structure (e.g., ISOFIX anchor) provided in a vehicle to lock the support base  100  in place on a vehicle seat. The two latch devices  126  may be assembled with the shell  102  adjacent to the end  102 A thereof and below the panel  120 , and can be respectively disposed adjacent to a left and a right side of the shell  102 . 
     Moreover, the support base  100  can include an anchoring system  128  that can be used for attaching the support base  100  on a vehicle seat with a vehicle safety belt. The anchoring system  128  may be implemented independently from the latch devices  126 , or in combination with the latch devices  126 . Referring to  FIG.  1   , the anchoring system  128  can include a belt clamp  130  and a belt retaining structure  132 . The belt clamp  130  is operable to clamp a lap belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to a surface  134  of the shell  102 , and the belt retaining structure  132  is configured to hold a shoulder belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the panel  120 . The surface  134  of the shell  102  across which a lap belt portion can be wrapped is located contiguously below the surface  122  of the panel  120 , and both surfaces  122  and  134  can have different slopes so that the surface  122  projects at an angle from the surface  134 . For example, the surface  134  can be inclined an angle, and the surface  122  can rise steeply upright from the surface  134 . According to an embodiment, an angle A 1  defined between the two surfaces  122  and  134  may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees. 
     The belt clamp  130  can be disposed on the inner side of the panel  120 , e.g., adjacent to the surface  122  of the panel  120 . According to an example of construction, the belt clamp  130  can be formed as a unitary part. The belt clamp  130  can be pivotally connected with the shell  102  about a pivot axis  136  extending transversally from a left to a right side of the support base  100 , and can have a distal edge  138  distant from the pivot axis  136 . The belt clamp  130  is thereby rotatable relative to the shell  102  between a clamping state and a release state. The distal edge  138  of the belt clamp  130  can be positioned adjacent to the surface  134  of the shell  102  in the clamping state, and can be displaced upward and away from the surface  134  of the shell  102  in the release state. According to an embodiment, the panel  120  fixedly connected with the shell  102  can rise above the belt clamp  130 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the support base  100  can further include a latching mechanism operable to lock the belt clamp  130  in the clamping state. The latching mechanism can include a latch  142  pivotally connected with the shell  102  about a pivot axis  144  extending transversally from a left to a right side of the support base  100 . According to an example of construction, the latch  142  can be integrally formed as a single part. The pivot axis  144  of the latch  142  can be substantially parallel to the pivot axis  136  of the belt clamp  130 . The latch  142  is thereby rotatable relative to the shell  102  to engage and lock the belt clamp  130  in the clamping state, and disengage and unlock the belt clamp  130  for its rotation between the clamping state and the release state. While the latch  142  is engaged with the belt clamp  130  in the clamping state, the latch  142  can extend over the distal edge  138  of the belt clamp  130 . In particular, an actuating portion  146  of the latch  142  can cover at least partially the belt clamp  130 . The actuating portion  146  can facilitate manual operation of the latch  142  for locking and unlocking the belt clamp  130 . 
     According to an embodiment, the belt clamp  130  may be spring biased toward the release state when the latch  142  disengages and unlocks the belt clamp  130 , which may facilitate installation of a vehicle safety belt. For example, a spring (not shown) may be disposed around the pivot axis  136  of the belt clamp  130  and connect to the belt clamp  130  for providing the biasing force that assists in releasing the belt clamp  130 . 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the belt retaining structure  132  can be provided on the panel  120 . According to an embodiment, the belt retaining structure  132  can include two belt guides  148  respectively disposed at a left and a right side of the panel  120 . According to an example of construction, each belt guide  148  can be shaped as a slot. The belt guides  148  can be opened on the outer side of the panel  120  for insertion of a shoulder belt portion therein. Moreover, the shell  102  can include two channels  150  extending through the panel  120  from the inner side to the outer side thereof. The two channels  150  can be provided at a left and a right side of the belt clamp  130 . Each channel  150  is adapted to receive the passage of a shoulder belt portion so that it can be held adjacent to the panel  120  with the belt retaining structure  132 . 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating exemplary installation of a vehicle safety belt  202  that is attached to the support base  100  with the anchoring system  128 . The vehicle safety belt  202  can include a lap belt portion  204  and a shoulder belt portion  206 . The lap belt portion  204  and the shoulder belt portion  206  can stretch transversally across the surface  134  of the shell  102 , and can be centrally clamped with the belt clamp  130 . The lap belt portion  204  can thereby wrap in contact with the surface  134  of the shell  102 . Moreover, the shoulder belt portion  206  can extend through one channel  150  and retained through one belt guide  148  of the belt retaining structure  132 . The shoulder belt portion  206  can be thereby held in contact with the panel  120 , which can prevent interference between the shoulder belt portion  206  with a child seat installed on the support base  100 . Moreover, the shoulder belt portion  206  can be prevented from undesirably applying a loading force on the support base  100  during car collision. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating a variant construction of an anchoring system  158  provided in the support base  100  for its attachment on a vehicle seat with a vehicle safety belt, and  FIG.  5    is an enlarged side view illustrating the anchoring system  158 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the panel  120  of the support base  100  can likewise protrude upright at the end  102 A of the shell  102 , and the surface  122  of the panel  120  can rise steeply from the surface  134  of the shell  102  where a lap belt portion of a vehicle safety belt can be wrapped for attaching the support base  100 . According to an embodiment, the angle A 1  defined between the two surfaces  122  and  134  may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees. The two contiguous surfaces  122  and  134  can define at least partially a belt anchoring region  160  adjacent to the panel  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the anchoring system  158  can be disposed in the belt anchoring region  160 , and can substitute for the anchoring system  128  described previously. The anchoring system  158  can include a belt clamp  162  and a belt retaining structure  164 . Like previously described, the belt clamp  162  is operable to clamp a lap belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the surface  134  of the shell  102 , and the belt retaining structure  164  is configured to hold a shoulder belt portion of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the panel  120 . 
     The belt clamp  162  can be disposed on the inner side of the panel  120 , e.g., adjacent to the surface  122  of the panel  120  which can rise above the belt clamp  162 . According to an example of construction, the belt clamp  162  can be provided as a unitary part. The belt clamp  162  can be pivotally connected with the shell  102  about a pivot axis  166  extending transversally from a left to a right side of the support base  100 , and can have a distal edge  168  distant from the pivot axis  166 . The belt clamp  162  is thereby rotatable relative to the shell  102  between a clamping state where the distal edge  168  is positioned adjacent to the surface  134  of the shell  102 , and a release state where the distal edge  168  is displaced upward and away from the surface  134  of the shell  102 . 
     The belt retaining structure  164  can be provided on the panel  120 . More specifically, the belt retaining structure  164  can include a belt clamp  170  that is pivotally connected with the panel  120  about a pivot axis  172  and has a distal edge  174  distant from the pivot axis  172 . According to an example of construction, the belt clamp  170  can be provided as a unitary part. The pivot axis  172  of the belt clamp  170  can extend transversally from the left to right side of the support base  100 , and can be substantially parallel to the pivot axis  166  of the belt clamp  162 . The belt clamp  170  is thereby rotatable relative to the panel  120  between a clamping state where the distal edge  174  is positioned adjacent to the surface  122  of the panel  120 , and a release state where the distal edge  174  is displaced away from the surface  122  of the panel  120 . 
     According to an embodiment, the two belt clamps  162  and  170  are disposed along a central axis of the support base  100 . The belt clamps  162  and  170  can be placed so that the distal edge  168  of the belt clamp  162  and the distal edge  174  of the belt clamp  170  can be adjacent to each other when the two belt clamps  162  and  170  are in the clamping state, as shown in  FIG.  4   . The two belt clamps  162  and  170  in the clamping state can extend along two directions that form an angle at least equal to or higher than 90 degrees. According to an example of construction, the belt clamp  170  may further have has a bend portion  176  that ends at the distal edge  174 , so that a smooth transition profile from the belt clamp  162  to the belt clamp  170  may be provided in the clamping state. When the two belt clamps  162  and  170  are in the release state, the distal edge  168  of the belt clamp  162  and the distal edge  174  of the belt clamp  170  can be displaced away from each other, as shown with phantom lines in  FIG.  5   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the support base  100  can further include a latching mechanism operable to lock the belt clamps  162  and  170  in the clamping state. According to an example of construction, this latching mechanism can include a latch  180  provided on the belt clamp  162  adjacent to the distal edge  168  thereof. For example, the latch  180  can be assembled with the belt clamp  162  for sliding movements to retract inward and protrude outward from the distal edge  168 . The latch  180  is thereby movable to engage and disengage the belt clamp  170 , wherein an opening  182  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG.  5   ) may be provided on the distal edge  174  of the belt clamp  170  for receiving the engagement of the latch  180 . The latch  180  can thereby engage with the opening  182  of the belt clamp  170  to lock the two belt clamps  162  and  170  in the clamping state, and disengage from the opening  182  of the belt clamp  170  for respective rotation of the belt clamps  162  and  170  relative to the shell  102  between the clamping state and the release state. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the latch  180  can have an actuating portion  184  exposed for operation on a surface of the belt clamp  162 . The actuating portion  184  may be formed integrally with the latch  180 . The actuating portion  184  is operable to urge the latch  180  in movement for disengaging from the belt clamp  170 . 
     According to an embodiment, the two belt clamps  162  and  170  may be spring biased toward the release state for facilitating installation of a vehicle safety belt. For example, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the two belt clamps  162  and  170  may be respectively connected with two spring  186  and  188  (shown with phantom lines), which may be torsion springs respectively disposed around the pivot axes  166  and  172  of the belt clamps  162  and  170 . The springs  186  and  188  may respectively bias the belt clamps  162  and  170  toward the release state when the latch  180  of the latching mechanism unlocks the belt clamps  162  and  170 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS.  4  and  5   ,  FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating exemplary installation of a vehicle safety belt  202  that is attached to the support base  100  with the anchoring system  158 . Referring to  FIG.  6   , the lap belt portion  204  and the shoulder belt portion  206  can respectively stretch transversally across the surface  134  of the shell  102  and the surface  122  of the panel  120 . The belt clamp  162  can clamp the lap belt portion  204  adjacent to the surface  134 , and the belt clamp  170  can clamp the shoulder belt portion  206  adjacent to the surface  122  of the panel  120 . The shoulder belt portion  206  can be thereby held in contact with the panel  120 , which can prevent interference between the shoulder belt portion  206  with a child seat installed on the support base  100 . 
       FIGS.  7  and  8    are two perspective views illustrating a variant construction of an anchoring system  190  provided in the support base  100  for its attachment on a vehicle seat with a vehicle safety belt. Referring to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the support base  100  can include the panel  120  and the belt anchoring region  160 , and the angle A 1  between the two surfaces  122  and  134  may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees, like previously described. The anchoring system  190  can be disposed in the belt anchoring region  160 , and can include a belt clamp  192  pivotally connected with the shell  102  of the support base  100 . The belt clamp  192  can include two clamp portions  192 A and  192 B that are fixedly connected with each other and form a bend shape, the clamp portion  192 B extending at an angle from the clamp portion  192 A. According to an example of construction, the belt clamp  192  including the two clamp portions  192 A and  192 B can be provided as a unitary part. The clamp portion  192 B of the belt clamp  192  can be pivotally connected with the panel  120  of the shell  102  about a pivot axis  194  extending transversally from a left to a right side of the support base  100 . The belt clamp  192  is thereby rotatable relative to the shell  102  between a clamping state (shown in  FIG.  7   ) where the two clamp portions  192 A and  192 B are respectively positioned adjacent to the surface  134  of the shell  102  and the surface  122  of the panel  120 , and a release state (shown in  FIG.  8   ) where the two clamp portions  192 A and  192 B are generally displaced away from the surface  134  of the shell  102  and the surface  122  of the panel  120 . In the clamping state, the clamp portion  192 A can clamp a lap belt portion  204  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG.  7   ) of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the surface  134  of the shell  102 , and the clamp portion  192 B can clamp and hold a shoulder belt portion  206  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG.  7   ) of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the surface  122  of the panel  120 . The clamp portion  192 B of the belt clamp  192  can accordingly form a belt retaining structure for holding a shoulder belt portion  206  of a vehicle safety belt adjacent to the panel  120 . In this manner, the lap belt portion  204  and the shoulder belt portion  206  of the vehicle safety belt can be simultaneously clamped and held at two different paths that are spaced apart from each other, which can prevent interference between the lap belt portion  204  and the shoulder belt portion  206 . According to an example of construction, the shell  102  may further include a rib  196  (better shown in  FIG.  8   ) that is disposed between the two regions where the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion can be respectively clamped by the two clamp portions  192 A and  192 B of the belt clamp  192 . The rib  196  can facilitate positioning of the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion to be clamped by the belt clamp  192 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS.  7  and  8   ,  FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary construction of a latching mechanism operable to lock the belt clamp  192  in the clamping state. For clarity, only a portion of the shell adjacent to the latch mechanism is shown in  FIG.  9   . Referring to  FIGS.  7 - 9   , this latching mechanism can be assembled with the belt clamp  192 , and can include a latch  216 , a spring  218  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG.  9   ) and a release actuator  220 . According to an example of construction, the latch  216  may have a hook shape. The latch  216  can be pivotally connected with the belt clamp  192 , and can project at an underside of the clamp portion  192 A. The latch  216  is thereby rotatable relative to the belt clamp  192  to engage with the shell  102  for locking the belt clamp  192  in the clamping state, and to disengage from the shell  102  for unlocking the belt clamp  192 . For example, the shell  102  may be fixedly connected with an anchor pin  226 , and the latch  216  is rotatable through a slit  228  provided on the shell  102  to engage with and disengage from the anchor pin  226 . 
     The spring  218  can be a torsion spring having two ends respectively connected with the belt clamp  192  and the latch  216 . The spring  218  can bias the latch  216  toward a locking state for locking engagement with the shell  102 . 
     The release actuator  220  can be disposed adjacent to the latch  216 , and can be exposed on the belt clamp  192  for manual operation. According to an embodiment, the release actuator  220  can be pivotally connected with the belt clamp  192 . The release actuator  220  is thereby rotatable relative to the belt clamp  192  to urge the latch  216  in rotation for disengaging from the anchor pin  226  provided on the shell  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  9   , the belt clamp  192  may further be connected with a spring  230 , which can bias the belt clamp  192  toward the release state when the latch  216  unlocks the belt clamp  192 . The spring  230  may be disposed around the pivot axis  194  of the belt clamp  192 . 
     Advantages of the structures described herein include the ability to provide a support base for a child safety seat having an anchoring system that can facilitate the attachment of the support base with a vehicle safety belt. The anchoring systems described herein can clamp a lap belt portion of the vehicle safety belt, and hold a shoulder belt portion of the vehicle safety belt adjacent to an end panel of the support base, which can advantageously prevent undesirable interference with a child seat installed on the support base. 
     Realization of the support base for a 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.