Patent Publication Number: US-2022219581-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for a rotatable child safety seat

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/449,319 filed Jan. 23, 2017, and titled “Rotatable Child Car Seat,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments disclosed herein are generally related to child and infant car seats and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for a child/infant car seat that is rotatable when installed in an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various automobile child safety seats have been developed to increase the safety of an infant or child (referred to generically as “child” hereinafter) as the ride in an automobile. These automobile child car safety seats are designed to be placed on the seat of the automobile. The conventional child car seats can be coupled to one of the automobile&#39;s passenger seat belt systems or via a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system to hold the child car seat in place on along the top surface of the automobile seat. In addition, the child car seat can include its own harness restraint system (e.g., a 2-point, 3-point, 4-point, or 5-point harness). Many features have been provided to improve the ergonomic aspects of using these child car seats. One ergonomic feature of conventional child car seats is to make a way for it to by making the car seat rotatable with respect to its seat base. 
     However, to provide a seat that is fully rotatably has generally required an overly large seat base in order to provide sufficient protection to the child passenger when the car seat is positioned in both the forward-facing and rearward-facing configuration. This results in a heavy and unwieldy car seat that can be difficult to move when desired by the user. Further, conventional car rotating car seats have provided the attachment points for the automobile seat belt or tether for the LATCH system at the seat base of the car seat in order to not affect the rotational capability of the car seat. This single point of connection to the seat base for the automobile seat belt system or tether of the LATCH system, even when the seat is in a front-facing configuration, results in a lower harness weight rating, which means only smaller infants and toddlers can be safely placed within the conventional rotating seats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and certain features thereof, reference is now made to the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying figures briefly described as follows: 
         FIGS. 1A-F  illustrate various views of a rotatable child car seat in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A-B  illustrate perspective and top plan views of a seat base for the rotatable child car seat of  FIGS. 1A-F  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate perspective and side elevation views of the rotating pedestal for the child car seat of  FIGS. 1A-F  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the rotatable child car seat of  FIGS. 1A-B  installed on an automobile seat in a forward-facing configuration in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is a side elevation view of the rotatable child car seat of  FIGS. 1A-B  installed in the rearward-facing configuration in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is the same side elevation view as  FIG. 5A  with the car seat rotated about 90 degrees in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Example embodiments of the disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The concepts discussed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those of ordinary skill in the art. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical, elements throughout. 
     Certain dimensions and features of the novel rotatable automobile child car safety seat are described herein using the term “approximately.” As used herein, the term “approximately” indicates that each of the described dimensions is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. Unless context or the description indicates otherwise, the use of the term “approximately” in connection with a numerical parameter indicates that the numerical parameter includes variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit. 
     In addition, certain relationships between dimensions of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat described herein and between features of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat are described herein using the term “substantially.” As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “substantially equal” indicates that the equal relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. Unless context or the description indicates otherwise, the use of the term “substantially” or “substantially equal” in connection with two or more described dimensions or positions indicates that the equal relationship between the dimensions or positions includes variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit of the dimensions. As used herein, the term “substantially constant” indicates that the constant relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. As used herein, the term “substantially parallel” indicates that the parallel relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. 
       FIG. 1A  presents a perspective view of a rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1B  presents a side elevation view of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1C  presents a front elevation view of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIGS. 1A-B  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1D  presents a rear elevation view of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIGS. 1A-C  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1E  presents a cross-sectional view of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat.  100  of  FIGS. 1A-D  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1F  is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIGS. 1A-E  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIGS. 2A-B  present perspective and top plan views of a seat base  104  for the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIGS. 1A-F  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.  FIGS. 3A-B  present perspective and side elevation views of the rotating pedestal  106  for the rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  of  FIGS. 1A-F  in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1A-3B , the example rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  can include a seat shell  102 . The rotatable child safety seat  100  can include a seat base  104  disposed beneath the seat shell  102 , and a rotating pedestal  106  disposed generally between the seat base  106  and the seat shell  102 . In one example, the seat shell  102  can be coupled to the rotating pedestal  106  and the rotating pedestal  106  can be rotatably coupled to or be rotatable within the seat base  104 . 
     The seat shell  102  of the car seat  100  can be made of any material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, composite, or a combination thereof. In one example embodiment, the seat shell  102  can be formed of a molded plastic and can include a front side, for receiving a child therein, and an opposing rear side. The front side of the seat shell  102  can include a seat back  110  or backrest and a seat bottom  108 , upon which a child can sit. The seat shell  102  can also include a pair of side retaining walls  112  extending forward from the seat back  110  at or adjacent to the opposing, vertically-extending lateral sides of the seat back  110 . In one example, the side retaining walls  112  are configured to limit side-to-side movement of the child while in the car seat  100  and can be integrally formed with the seat shell  102  or coupled to a portion of the seat back  110 . All or a portion of the seat shell  102  can be covered in padding and/or soft goods (e.g., padding, fabric, leather, faux leather, and/or another material) to increase the comfort level of sitting in the car seat  100 . 
     The rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  can also include a first central adjuster (not shown) disposed generally along the front side  135  of the seat bottom  108  of the seat shell  102 . The first central adjuster can include a slot or passageway (not shown) disposed through the seat shell  102  of the car seat  100  that extends from the front  135  or top side of the seat bottom  108  to a bottom side  133  of the seat bottom  108  under the seat shell  102 . In one example, the slot can define an opening to and provide a passageway through the seat shell  102  from the bottom side  133  of the seat bottom  108  to a front side  135  of the seat bottom  108 . In certain example embodiments the slot further provides a passageway from the front side  135  of the seat bottom  108  to a rear side of the seat shell  102  (e.g., along the rear side of the seat back  110 ). 
     The rotatable automobile child car safety seat  100  can also include a pair of armrests (not shown). Each armrest can be positioned above the top surface  129  of the seat bottom  108 . For example, each armrest can be coupled to or integrally formed with the seat shell  102  of the car seat  100  along opposing lateral sides of the seat bottom  108 . The car seat  100  can also include a child restraint system (not shown). The child restraint system can include at least a pair of shoulder straps or belts. Each of the shoulder belts can include a first end and a distal second end. The first end of each shoulder belt can be removably coupled directly or indirectly to the seat shell  102  of the car seat  100 . In one example embodiment, each first end of each shoulder belt may be threaded through or otherwise slidably attached and adjustable along a chest harness (not shown). The chest harness can be removably coupled to a chest harness clip (not shown). In one example, the chest harness can include a latch plate (not shown) that is configured to be removably coupled to the chest harness clip. For example, the chest harness clip can be coupled directly or indirectly to the seat shell and can include a latch (not shown) having a release mechanism. The latch can be configured to receive the latch plate and couple the chest harness to the chest harness clip. The release mechanism is configured to disengage the chest harness from the chest harness clip by, for example, releasing the latch plate from the latch. 
     The second end of each the shoulder belt can be coupled to one end of a strap tensioning mechanism that is positioned along the rear side  113  of the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102 . For example, each shoulder belt can be fed through one of multiple harness slots (not shown) in a seat back  110  of the seat shell  102 . Each harness slot can define a passageway from the front side  111  to the rear side  113  of the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102 . In one example, the multiple harness slots can be paired (such that each receives one of the at least two shoulder belts) and oriented vertically along the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102  to provide a vertical positioning adjustment for the shoulder belts as they pass from the front side  111  of the seat back  110  to the rear side  113  of the seat back  110 . In one example, four pairs of harness slots are oriented vertically along the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102 . However, greater or fewer numbers of harness slots can be provided along the seat back  110 . 
     The seat base  104  can include a bottom surface  118 , one or more side walls  120  that extend generally vertically upward from the bottom surface  118 , and one or more retaining flanges  122  or rims. In one example, the retaining flange  122  can be a portion of the seat base  104  that extends radially inward from the one or more side walls  120 , such that the side wall defines a first inner wall, the retaining flange  122  defines a second inner wall and the diameter of the second inner wall is less than the diameter of the first inner wall. This results in the flange  122  reducing the size and/or diameter of the opening  181  into the seat base  104 . The flange  122  is also configured to assist in holding or maintaining a rotating pedestal base  126  within a cavity  125  of the seat base  104  positioned below the retaining flange  122 . 
     The side wall of the seat base  104  can include one or more side walls that extend around the outer edge of the bottom surface  118  of the seat base  104 . Further, the seat base  104  can include an inner wall surface  191  that, along with the bottom surface  118  and the flange  122  define the cavity  195 . The inner wall surface  191  can extend orthogonally from the bottom surface  118  in certain example embodiments. In other embodiments, the inner wall surface  191  can extend at an acute or orthogonal angle to the bottom surface  118 . In one example, the inner wall surface  191  can define another annular ring-shaped opening along the bottom side of the seat base  104  that has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the diameter of the opening defined by the second inner wall of the retaining flange. The bottom surface  118  can include a bottom side that is flat or substantially flat and configured to rest upon a top surface of an automobile seat  202  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     In one example, a single retaining flange  122  is provided and the retaining flange  122  is formed along an inner wall of the one or more side walls  120  and extends radially inward from the side walls  120  toward the rotational axis Y of the rotating child car seat  100 . The example retaining flange  122  can have an inner wall  123  that defines, for example, an annular ring disposed above and vertically separated from the bottom surface  118 . 
     The retaining flange  122  or another portion of the seat base  104  can also include one or more pin receiving cavities or apertures  124 . Each pin receiving cavity or aperture  124  can provide an indentation, cavity, passageway, or channel through all or a portion of the retaining flange  122  and/or side wall  120  from above or along the side of the seat base  104 . In certain example embodiments, one or more of the pin receiving cavities or apertures  124  can provide a passageway or channel that extends from a top side of the flange  122  into the cavity  125  positioned below the flange  122 . Each pin receiving cavity or aperture  124  is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a locking pin  134  therein. In certain example embodiments, the pin receiving cavity or aperture  124  may only extend through a portion of the retaining flange  122  and/or wall  120  rather than all of the way through it. In certain example embodiments, the seat base  104  can include multiple pin receiving cavities or apertures  124  (e.g., any number of cavities or apertures  124  between 1-20). In one example, seven pin receiving apertures  124  are provided in the retaining flange  122  and spaced substantially around the annular ring of the flange  122 . In another example embodiment, four pin receiving cavities or apertures  124  are provided in the retaining flange  122  and spaced substantially 90 degrees apart. In other example embodiments, three pin receiving cavities or apertures  124  are provided and the seat  100  is configured to rotate only 90 degrees to the left and the right about the rotational axis Y from an initial position or aperture  124 . In one example, the initial position can be with the car seat  102  facing in the rear-facing position, as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     The seat base  104  can include a cavity  125  positioned between the bottom surface  118  and the retaining flange member(s)  122 . This cavity  125  can be configured to receive and retain therein a rotating pedestal base  126 . For example, the cavity  125  can have a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the rotating pedestal base  126 . 
     The seat base  104  can also include a tab channel (not shown) disposed in and extending along a bottom side of the flange  122 . The channel can be elongated and arcuate in shape. The channel can have a width and is configured to receive at least a portion of a rotation limiter tab  166  therein. The channel can have a first end wall and a distal second end wall that limit the range of rotation of the rotating pedestal base  126  through contact with the rotation limiter tab  166 . 
     The rotating pedestal  106  can include a first end  127  coupled to the seat shell  102  and a distal second end  197  coupled to the pedestal base  126 . In one example embodiment, the rotating pedestal  106  has generally cylindrical shape with a circular cross-sectional shape along an axis orthogonal to the rotational axis Y. The rotating pedestal  106  can have a constant or variable diameter. For example, the rotating pedestal  106  can include a first portion  128  having a first diameter and a second portion  161  having a generally cylindrical shape and a second diameter that is less than the first diameter and less than the diameter of the pedestal base  126 . In one example, at least a portion of the diameter of the rotating pedestal  106  (e.g., the second portion  161 ) is less than the diameter of the opening defined by the inner wall  123  of the retaining flange  122  and less than the diameter of the rotating pedestal base  126 . The pedestal base  126  can be coupled to or integrally formed with the second end  197  of the rotating pedestal  106  and can be configured to be positioned below the retaining flange  122 . For example, the pedestal base  106  can be coupled to the bottom side of the second portion  161  of the rotating pedestal  106  using screws, bolts or other coupling devices. In one example, the pedestal base  126  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the opening defined by the inner wall  123  of the retaining flange  122 . This greater diameter for the pedestal base  126  prevents the pedestal base  126  from being lifted vertically and removed from or falling out of the cavity  125 . In certain example embodiments, the pedestal base  126  can include an outer perimeter wall  131 . In one example, the outer perimeter wall  131  extends at an angle orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the bottom surface  118  of the seat base  104 . In another example embodiment, the outer perimeter wall  131  can extend at a complementary angle to the angle of the inner wall surface  191  of the seat base  104 . 
     The pedestal base  126  can also include a rotation limiter tab  166 . The rotation limiter tab  166  can be a member that extends up from a top side of the pedestal base  126 . In one example, the rotation limiter tab  166  can have a substantially cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the rotation limiter tab  166  can have any other shape. At least a portion of the rotation limiter tab  166  is configured to extend into and move along the tab channel in the bottom side of the flange  122 . Contact by the rotation limiter tab  166  with one of the end walls of the tab channel will prevent further rotation of the pedestal  106  and seat shell  102 . 
     The rotating pedestal  106  can also include a first portion  128  having a larger diameter than the second portion  161  and positioned vertically above the second portion  161 . In one example, this first portion extends from the second portion  161  to the first end  127 . In another example embodiment, the first portion can be a pedestal flanges  128  that extends out from the outer surface of the pedestal  106  and is positioned between the second portion  161  and the first end  127 . In one example, a first portion  128  extends radially outward from the second portion  161  and has an outer perimeter that is ring-shaped or substantially ring-shaped. The example first portion or pedestal flange  128  can have an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the opening defined by the inner wall  123  of the retaining flange  122 . 
     A locking pin  134  can positioned within or may be operably coupled to the first portion  128 . For example, the first portion  128  of the rotatable pedestal  106  can include a cavity configured to receive therein the locking pin  134 . The cavity can include an opening along a bottom side of the first portion  128  of the rotatable pedestal  106  through which at least a portion of the locking pin  134  can extend. The locking pin  134  can be movable from a locked position to an unlocked position. In one example embodiment, the locking pin  134  can include a spring or other biasing mechanism to bias the locking pin  134  in the locked position (e.g., downward towards the retaining flange  122 ). 
     The rotatable child car seat  100  can also include a locking pin release mechanism  130 . In one example, the locking pin release mechanism  130  is coupled to and operably adjustable along the seat shell  102 . For example, the locking pin release mechanism  130  can be positioned along the seat bottom  108  on the side of the seat shell  102  or along the front or rear sides of the seat bottom  108 . In other examples, the locking pin release mechanism  130  can be positioned along the pedestal  106  or seat base  104 . The locking pin release mechanism  130  can be a rotating lever, adjustable switch, pull-tab, press-button, or any other hand-operated mechanism. 
     The locking pin release mechanism  130  can also include a spring or other biasing member that biases the locking pin release mechanism  130  in a first position and allows at least a portion of the locking pin release mechanism  130  to be manipulated by hand application of a force into a second position (e.g., rotation, translation, extension, etc.). The locking pin release mechanism  130  can then automatically return to the first position due to the biasing force being applied by the spring or other biasing member once the force is no longer being applied to the locking pin release mechanism  130 . In one example, the spring is a torsion spring. 
     A cable wire, tether, or string  132  can be coupled along a first end  132 A to the locking pin release mechanism  130  and along a distal second end  132 B to the locking pin  134 . In one example, the cable  132  can be routed along the back side  113  of the seat shell  102 , about a friction reducing member  136 , such as a pulley, roller, or radiused or otherwise smooth surface, and to the locking pin  134 . 
     In operation, as shown in  FIG. 1F , the locking pin release mechanism  130  can be a rotating lever that can be spring-biased in a first position and manually rotated in the direction R 1  to overcome the spring-bias of the spring or other biasing member and into the second position. The rotation of the locking pin release mechanism  130  applies a tension to the cable  132 , which overcomes the spring-bias of spring or other biasing member applying a downward force on the locking pin  134  that biases the pin  134  into the pin receiving aperture  124  and pulls the locking pin  134  generally vertically upward out of the pin receiving aperture  124  in the flange  122 . This allows the pedestal base  126 , first portion  128  and second portion  161  of the pedestal  106 , and seat shell  102  to rotate in either direction about the rotational axis Y with respect to the seat base  104 . Once manual force is reduced on the locking pin release mechanism  130 , the spring-biasing force on the mechanism  130  will cause it to rotate in the direction opposite R 1 . This will reduce the tension on the cable  132  and allow the spring-biasing force on the locking pin  134  to move the locking pin  134  from the unlocked position generally downward towards the locked position. Once the rotation of the car seat  102 , pedestal  106 , and pedestal base  126  about the rotational axis Y aligns the locking pin  134  with another pin receiving aperture  124  or cavity in the seat base  104 , the locking pin  134  will enter that opening  124  or cavity and lock the car seat  102 , first portion  128  and second portion  161  of the pedestal  106 , and the pedestal base  126  rotationally in place with respect to the seat base  104 . 
     The rotating pedestal  106  can also include reclining channels  167 ,  168  and recline stop position apertures  169 ,  170 . At least a portion of the seat shell  102  can ride within the reclining channels  167 ,  168  to allow the seat shell  102  to be reclined at different angles with respect to the pedestal  106 . Position stop tabs (not shown) can be coupled to the seat shell and operably coupled to a stop tab release mechanism  171 . The stop tab release mechanism  171  can be a rotating lever, adjustable switch, pull-tab, press-button, or any other hand-operated mechanism. The stop tab release mechanism can include a spring or other biasing devices to bias the stop tab release mechanism into a first position, in which each position stop tab engages one of the recline sop position apertures  169 ,  170 . Each position stop tab can be coupled to the stop tab release mechanism  171  via one or more cables, wires, or tethers. While six recline positions are shown in  FIGS. 3A-B , this is for example purposes only, as greater or fewer recline positions and angles can be provided based on the number and positioning of the recline stop position apertures  169 ,  170 . 
     The example rotatable child car seat  100  can further include two separate and distinct seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment areas or pathways, which will be described in greater detail with regard to  FIGS. 1A-2B and 4-5B . A first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway can be positioned along the rear side  113  of the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102 . When an automobile seat belt or tether of the LATCH system is attached to the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  203 ,  302 , rotation of the seat shell  102  and pedestal  106  with respect to the seat base  104  is prevented or significantly limited because rotation of the seat shell  102  and pedestal  106  would require that the seat belt or LATCH tether attached to the seat shell  102  also extend and rotate with the seat shell  102  and pedestal  106 . The first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  203 ,  302  is used when the rotatable child car seat  100  is placed in a forward-facing configuration with regard to an automobile seat (see  FIG. 4 ). Forward-facing configuration, are typically used for children who are older and better able to position themselves in the car seat. In addition, parents or guardians are also typically more experienced with coupling and decoupling a child from a car seat once the child is old enough to sit in the car seat  100  in the forward facing configuration. 
     A second seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  304 ,  306  can be positioned along the rear side of the seat base  104 . When the automobile seat belt or tether of the LATCH system is attached to or routed through the second seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  304 ,  306 , rotation of the car seat  102  with respect to the seat base  104  can be accomplished in the manner described above with reference to  FIGS. 1A-5B . The second seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  304 ,  306  is used when the rotatable child car seat  100  is placed in a rearward-facing configuration with regard to the automobile seat (see  FIG. 5A ). Rearward-facing configurations are typically used for infants and younger toddler children who are unable to position themselves in the car seat  100  or may have less-developed fine motor and musculature development. Parents of these younger children may also be less experienced in dealing with coupling and decoupling the child from the car seat  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view  400  of the rotatable child car seat  100  installed on an automobile seat  202  in a forward-facing configuration, in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-4 , the rotatable child car seat  100  is positioned in the forward-facing configuration in an automobile, such that the front  135  of the seat shell  102  faces towards the front of the automobile. The seat base  104  rests along the top surface of the automobile seat bottom  202 , the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102  is positioned adjacent the front side of the automobile seat back  214 , and the child typically faces toward the front of the automobile. The rotatable child car seat  100  can further include the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  203 ,  302 . In one example, the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway includes a first seat belt attachment arm  203  and a second seat belt attachment arm  302  (see  FIG. 1D ). Each of the seat belt attachment arms  203 ,  302  have a first end  205  coupled to the back side  113  of the seat shell  102  and a distal second end  204  coupled to the back side  113  of the seat shell  102 . Each of the seat belt attachment arms  203 ,  302  can be generally elongated members that each define an opening  206  for receiving an automobile seat belt  208  or LATCH tether therethrough between the respective seat belt attachment arm  203 ,  302  and the back side  113  of the seat shell  102 . 
     The automobile seat belt  208  can be either a two-point or three-point seat belt and can have a first end  210  coupled to the automobile and a distal second end  212  that can be routed through the openings  206  defined by each seat bell attachment arm  203 ,  302  and then latched to a latch with a latch plate disposed along the second end  212 . 
     The LATCH tether can include a tether, strap, or elongated piece of material similar to the belt material of the automobile seat belt. One end of the LATCH tether can include a first lower anchor connector (e.g., a latch (e.g., a spring-loaded latch), clip (e.g., a spring-loaded clip), carabiner (e.g., a spring-loaded carabiner), or other coupling device). A distal second end of the LATCH tether can include a second lower anchor connector (e.g., a latch (e.g., a spring-loaded latch), clip (e.g., a spring-loaded clip), carabiner (e.g., a spring-loaded carabiner), or other coupling device). Each of the first lower anchor connector and second lower anchor connector are configured to be removably coupled to corresponding automobile anchors, which may be positioned along the floorboard of the automobile, between the seat bottom and seat back of the automobile seat, along the back side of the seat back of the automobile seat, and/or along the ceiling of the automobile. The first lower anchor connector can be removably coupled to one automobile anchor. The ANCHOR tether can be routed through the openings  206  defined by each seat belt attachment arm  203 ,  302 , and then the second lower anchor connector can be removably coupled to a second automobile anchor. 
     As the seat belt  208  or ANCHOR tether is routed through the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway of the rotatable child car seat  100 , which is directly coupled to the seat shell  102  by way of the seat belt attachment arms  203 ,  302 , the seat shell  102  and pedestal  106  are prevented from being rotatable about the rotational axis Y with respect to the seat base  104 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a side elevation view  500  of the rotatable child car seat  100  installed in the rearward-facing configuration, in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure. Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-3B  and SA, the rotatable child car seat  100  is positioned in the rearward-facing configuration in an automobile, such that the front  135  of the seat shell  102  faces towards the rear of the automobile. The seat base  104  rests along the top surface of the automobile seat bottom  202 , the seat back  110  of the seat shell  102  is positioned away from the front side of the automobile seat back  214 , and the child typically faces toward the rear of the automobile. 
     The rotatable child car seat  100  can further include a second seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  304 ,  306  positioned separately from the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway defined by arms  203 ,  302  described above. The second seat belt and/or LATCH tether attachment area or pathway  304 ,  306  can include a first seat belt and/or LATCH tether aperture  304  disposed though a rear side of the side wall  120  of the seat base  104  and extending to the top side or front side of the seat base  104  and a second seat belt, and/or LATCH tether aperture  306  disposed though a rear side of the side wall  120  of the seat base  104  and extending to the top side or front side of the seat base  104 . Each of the first  304  and second  306  seat belt and/or LATCH tether apertures provide a passageway through at least a portion of the seat base  104  for receiving an automobile seat belt  208  and/or LATCH tether therethrough. A portion of the seat base  104  (e.g., a separation wall  305 ) can extend between the first aperture  304  and the second aperture  306 . 
     The automobile seat belt  208  can be either a two-point or three-point seat belt and can have a first end  210  coupled to the automobile and a distal second end  212  that can be routed through the openings  304  and  306  and then latched to a latch with a latch plate disposed along the second end  212  of the seat belt. For example, the seat belt  208  can be routed under the seat base  104 , extend up through the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether aperture  304 , pass over the separation wall  305  along the top side of the seat base  104 , extend through the second seat belt and/or LATCH tether aperture  306  from the top side down towards the bottom side of the seat base  104  and extend out from the bottom side  118  of the seat base  104 . 
     The LATCH tether can be the same as described above. The LATCH tether can have the first lower anchor connector removably coupled to one automobile anchor. The ANCHOR tether can be routed through the openings  304  and  306 , and then the second lower anchor connector can be removably coupled to a second automobile anchor. For example, the LATCH tether can be routed under the seat base  104 , extend up through the first seat belt and/or LATCH tether aperture  304 , pass over the separation wall  305  along the top side of the seat base  104 , extend through the second seat belt and/or LATCH tether aperture  306  from the top side down towards the bottom side of the seat base  104  and extend out from the bottom side  118  of the seat base  104 . 
     As the seat belt  208  and/or LATCH tether is routed through the second seat belt attachment and/or LATCH tether area or pathway of the rotatable child care seat  100 , which is the seat base  104 , the seat shell  102  (and the pedestal  106  and pedestal base  126 ) can continue to rotate with respect to the seat base  104  about the rotational axis Y when manually activated by a user as described herein. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the seat shell  102 , pedestal  106 , and pedestal base having been rotated counter-clockwise about 90 degrees as compared to  FIG. 5A , while the seat base  104  remains coupled to the seat belt  208  of the automobile or the LATCH tether. While the seat shell  102  of  FIG. 5B  is shown to have rotated counter-clockwise, it also could have been rotated clockwise anywhere in the range of 1-360 degrees, including but not limited to 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, if desired by the user. In addition, while the seat shell  102  of  FIG. 5B  is shown as having been rotated counter-clockwise 90 degrees, it could have additionally been rotated 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 180, 270 or any other amount of degrees between 1-360 degrees if desired by the user. 
     Although child safety seat features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. 
     Conditional language, such as, among others. “can,” “could.” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations could include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation. 
     Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will be apparent having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.