Patent Publication Number: US-11639121-B2

Title: Child safety seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/852,282 filed on Apr. 17, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,338,710, which claims priority to Chinese patent application no. 201910345902.1 filed on Apr. 26, 2019. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to child safety seats. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A child safety seat is typically used in an automobile vehicle to properly restrain a child in the event of accidental collision. In particular, the child safety seat can provide protection by restraining the child from moving forward or rearward when the vehicle is subjected to frontal or rear collision. 
     In addition to providing protection during frontal and rear collision, some child safety seat may further include a side impact protection structure adapted to dissipate crash energy induced by vehicle side collision. For example, China patent no. CN 105329121 B describes a side impact protecting structure that is provided on a sidewall of the child safety seat, wherein the side impact protection structure includes a protecting element that can be retracted for storage or deployed for use, and a caregiver needs to apply a pressure on the protecting element to unlock the protecting element for deployment. Owing to the location of the protecting element on the sidewall of the child safety seat, it may happen that a caregiver forgets to deploy the protecting element, which consequently remains in a retracted position and cannot provide effective protection. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved child safety seat having a side impact protection system that can be conveniently deployed, and address at least the foregoing issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes a child safety seat having a side impact protection system that is adapted to provide protection during vehicle side collision and can be stowed for compact storage and deployed in a convenient manner. 
     According to an embodiment, the child safety seat includes a seat shell having two sidewalls respectively provided at a left and a right side of the seat shell for restricting sideways movement of a child sitting on the seat shell, a buffering part connected with the seat shell, a retaining mechanism and a release mechanism. The buffering part is movable between a first position corresponding to a stowed state where the buffering part is retracted toward one of the two sidewalls, and a second position corresponding to a deployed state where the buffering part protrudes sideways from the sidewall. The retaining mechanism is operable to hold the buffering part in the first position. The release mechanism includes an operating device that is disposed in a region of the seat shell between the two sidewalls and is operatively connected with the retaining mechanism, the operating device being operable to release the buffering part from the hold of the retaining mechanism for movement of the buffering part from the first position to the second position. 
     According to another embodiment, the child safety seat includes a seat shell having two sidewalls respectively provided at a left and a right side of the seat shell for restricting sideways movement of a child sitting on the seat shell, two buffering parts respectively connected with the two sidewalls of the seat shell, two retaining mechanisms and a release mechanism. Each of the two buffering parts is movable between a first position corresponding to a stowed state where the buffering part is retracted toward the corresponding sidewall, and a second position corresponding to a deployed state where the buffering part protrudes sideways from the corresponding sidewall. The two retaining mechanisms are operable to respectively hold the two buffering parts in the first position. The release mechanism includes an operating device that is respectively connected operatively with the two retaining mechanisms, the operating device being operable to concurrently release the two buffering parts from the hold of the two retaining mechanisms for movement of the two buffering parts from the first position to the second position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat having a side impact protection system in a stowed state; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating the child safety seat with the side impact protection system in a deployed state; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating an impact receiving module of the side impact protection system; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded view illustrating some construction details of the side impact protection system; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view taken from a side opposite to that of  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a partially exploded view illustrating some assembly details of the side impact protection system; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic view illustrating some construction details of a retaining mechanism and a release mechanism of the side impact protection system; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic view illustrating the retaining mechanism in another configuration different from that of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view illustrating some construction details provided in the side impact protection system; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view illustrating an operating device provided in the release mechanism of the side impact protection system; and 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded view illustrating some construction details of the operating device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS.  1  and  2    are two perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat  200 . Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the child safety seat  200  includes a seat shell  102  including a seat portion  110  and a backrest portion  130 , and a side impact protection system  100  coupled to the seat shell  102 . The seat portion  110  and the backrest portion  130  can be fixedly connected with each other. For example, the seat shell  102  may be integrally formed to include the seat portion  110  and the backrest portion  130 . The seat shell  102  can further include two sidewalls  1301  respectively provided at a left and a right side of the seat shell  102  for restricting sideways movements of a child sitting on the seat shell  102 . The two sidewalls  1301  can be fixedly connected with the backrest portion  130 , respectively project forward from the backrest portion  130  at the left and right sides of the seat shell  102 , and extend from a top of the backrest portion  130  toward the seat portion  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the side impact protection system  100  can include an impact receiving module  10  and a retaining mechanism  20  (better shown in  FIG.  9   ) coupled to each other at each of the left and right sides of the seat shell  102 , and a release mechanism  12  respectively coupled to the retaining mechanism  20  at each of the left and right sides of the seat shell  102 . The two impact receiving modules  10  respectively provided at the left and right sides of the seat shell  102  can have a same construction, and can be respectively disposed at symmetric positions on the two sidewalls  1301  of the backrest portion  130  (only one impact receiving module  10  is shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). Each impact receiving module  10  has a stowed state shown in  FIG.  1    for facilitating its storage, and a deployed state for use shown in  FIG.  2   . The impact receiving module  10  can be held in the stowed state by the retaining mechanism  20  coupled thereto, and may be switched from the stowed state to the deployed state by operation of the release mechanism  12 . When the vehicle in which is installed the child safety seat  200  is subjected to sideways collision, any of the impact receiving modules  10  in the deployed state can be pressed against the vehicle body (e.g., a vehicle door panel) for dissipating a portion of the impact energy. Sideways cushioning can be thereby achieved for better protection of the child sitting on the child safety seat  200 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS.  1  and  2   ,  FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating one impact receiving module  10 , and  FIGS.  4 - 11    are various views illustrating further construction details of the side impact protection system  100 . Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 6   , each sidewall  1301  can have an opening  1302  provided at an outer side thereof for receiving the assembly of the corresponding impact receiving module  10 . The impact receiving module  10  includes a buffering part  11  that is movably connected with the seat shell  102 . The buffering part  11  may have any suitable construction adapted to provide cushioning effects. According to an example of construction, the buffering part  11  may include two casing portions  113  and  115  that are fixedly attached to each other. Examples of suitable materials for making the buffering part  11  may include, without limitation, plastics. The buffering part  11  is movable relative to the seat shell  102  at the outer side of the sidewall  1301 . For example, the buffering part  11  can move between a first position where a distal end  11 A of the buffering part  11  is retracted toward the interior of the opening  1302 , and a second position where the distal end  11 A of the buffering part  11  protrudes sideways from the sidewall  1301  outside the opening  1302 . The first position of the buffering part  11  corresponds to the stowed state shown in  FIG.  1   , and the second position of the buffering part  11  corresponds to the deployed state shown in  FIG.  2   . In the first position, the buffering part  11  may be substantially received inside the opening  1302  for compact storage. In the second position, the buffering part  11  may protrude outward, e.g., substantially perpendicular to the sidewall  1301 . During sideways collision, the buffering part  11  in the second position may be pressed against a vehicle body (e.g., a vehicle door panel) and consequently deform, crush and/or cause a portion of the seat shell  102  around the buffering part  11  to deform for dissipating a portion of the impact energy. 
     According to an embodiment, the backrest portion  130  can have a front surface  130 A adapted to provide support for a child&#39;s back, and the buffering part  11  may be connected with a portion of the sidewall  1301  that is located in front of the front surface  130 A of the backrest portion  130 . For example, the buffering part  11  may be connected with a portion of the sidewall  1301  that is located in front of the front surface  130 A and is vertically adjacent to a child&#39;s seated shoulder height. With this placement, a pressure applied on the deployed buffering part  11  as a result of a sideways collision may cause the portion of the sidewall  1301  located in front of the front surface  130 A of the backrest portion  130  to deform and bend toward the interior of the seat shell  102 , which can provide better protection for the seated child. 
     According to an example of construction, the buffering part  11  may be pivotally connected with the seat shell  102 . For example, a mount base  13  can be fixedly attached to the sidewall  1301  of the seat shell  102 , and the buffering part  11  can be pivotally connected with the mount base  13 . The buffering part  11  can thus rotate between the first position corresponding to the stowed state and the second position corresponding to the deployed state. According to an example of construction, the pivot connection of the buffering part  11  may be such that the distal end  11 A of the buffering part  11  can be displaced forward to the first position and rearward to the second position. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 6   , the mount base  13  can exemplarily include a pivot support member  131  and a housing  133 . The housing  133  can have a cavity  133 A and can be fixedly connected with the seat shell  102  in the opening  1302  of the sidewall  1301 . The pivot support member  131  can be fixedly connected with the seat shell  102  at an underside of the cavity  133 A of the housing  133 , and extend through an opening  1331  provided in the housing  133  into the cavity  133 A. The portion of the pivot support member  131  extending into the cavity  133 A of the housing  133  may have a hole  1311  (better shown in  FIG.  6   ), and a pivot shaft (not shown) may be assembled through the hole  1311  for pivotally connecting the buffering part  11  with the pivot support member  131 . The buffering part  11  thereby assembled can rotate relative to the pivot support member  131 , wherein the buffering part  11  can be substantially received in the cavity  133 A of the housing  133  in the first position and substantially protrude outside the cavity  133 A of the housing  133  in the second position. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  6   , at each of the left and right sides, the child safety seat  200  may respectively include a spring  30  coupled to the buffering part  11 . The spring  30  can bias the buffering part  11  toward the second position corresponding to the deployed state. According to an example of construction, the spring  30  may be a torsion spring. The spring  30  can be disposed inside the hole  1311  of the pivot support member  131 , and can have two ends respectively anchored in a slot  1313  provided in the pivot support member  131  and a slot  111  provided in the buffering part  11 . The biasing action applied by the spring  30  can facilitate deployment of the buffering part  11 . 
     The two retaining mechanisms  20  respectively provided at the left and right sides of the seat shell  102  can be similar in construction, and are respectively disposed adjacent to the two impact receiving modules  10 .  FIGS.  3 ,  6 ,  8  and  9    illustrate construction details of one retaining mechanism  20 . Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  3 ,  6 ,  8  and  9   , each retaining mechanism  20  can be configured to hold the buffering part  11  associated therewith in the first position corresponding to the stowed state. According to an example of construction, the retaining mechanism  20  can include a magnetic element  21  coupled to the seat shell  102 , and a magnetic element  23  coupled to the buffering part  11 . For example, the magnetic element  21  may be disposed adjacent to the housing  133  of the mount base  13  on the seat shell  102 , and the magnetic element  23  may be fixedly attached to the buffering part  11 , whereby the magnetic element  23  can move along with the buffering part  11  relative to the seat shell  102  and the magnetic element  21 . The two magnetic elements  21  and  23  can include magnets, electromagnets, ferromagnetic parts, magnetically sensitive parts, and like elements capable of interacting each other via magnetic attraction. For example, one of the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  may be a magnet, and the other one of the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  may be a part including iron or other ferromagnetic materials. When the buffering part  11  is in the first position corresponding to the stowed state, the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  are close to each other so that a holding force can be generated by magnetic attraction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  for holding the buffering part  11  in the first position. The magnetic element  23  can move away from the magnetic element  21  when the buffering part  11  moves from the first position to the second position. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  4 - 9   , the release mechanism  12  includes an operating device  50  that is respectively connected operatively with the retaining mechanism  20  at each of the left and right sides of the seat shell  102 , the operating device  50  being operable to release each buffering part  11  from the hold of the retaining mechanism  20  so that the buffering part  11  is allowed to move from the first position to the second position. For example, the release mechanism  12  may be configured to displace each magnetic element  21  relative to the seat shell  102  from a hold position (corresponding to the configuration shown in  FIG.  7   ) to a release position (corresponding to the configuration shown in  FIG.  8   ). When the magnetic element  21  is in the hold position and the buffering part  11  is in the first position, the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  are close to each other so that a holding force can be generated by magnetic attraction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  for holding the buffering part  11  in the first position. In the release position, the magnetic element  21  is displaced away from the magnetic element  23  to reduce or prevent the magnetic interaction between the magnetic elements  21  and  23 , whereby the buffering part  11  is allowed to move from the first position to the second position. According to an example of construction, the release mechanism  12  can include the operating device  50 , two actuators  70  (better shown in  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 9   ), and two linking elements  60  respectively coupling the operating device  50  to the two actuators  70 . 
     The two actuators  70  are respectively disposed adjacent to the two impact receiving modules  10 , and can be similar in construction.  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 9    illustrate construction details of one actuator  70  provided at one of the left and right sides of the seat shell  102 . Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  6 - 9   , the actuator  70  is coupled to the magnetic element  21 , and is operable to move the magnetic element  21  relative to the seat shell  102  between the hold position shown in  FIG.  7    and the release position shown in  FIG.  8   . According to an example of construction, the actuator  70  can be connected with the seat shell  102 , and can include a magnetic element carrier  71  and a spring  77 . The magnetic element carrier  71  may be exemplarily a single part having a rod-like elongate shape. It will be appreciated, however, that the magnetic element carrier  71  may have other suitable shapes. The magnetic element carrier  71  can be fixedly connected with the magnetic element  21  and movably connected with the seat shell  102 , whereby the magnetic element carrier  71  and the magnetic element  21  carried thereon are movable in unison between the hold position and the release position. 
     According to an example of construction, the magnetic element carrier  71  may be pivotally connected with the seat shell  102 , and can rotate relative to the seat shell  102  between the hold position and the release position. For example, the magnetic element carrier  71  can have an opening  713 , and a shaft portion  1336  fixedly connected with the housing  133  at a side opposite to that of the buffering part  11  can be disposed through the opening  713  for pivotally connecting the magnetic element carrier  71  about the shaft portion  1336 . The buffering part  11  and the magnetic element carrier  71  can be thereby disposed at two opposite sides of the housing  133  for compact assembly. The magnetic element  21  can be fixedly attached to an end  711  of the magnetic element carrier  71  distant from the shaft portion  1336 , and can be received at least partially in a recess  1333  of an arcuate shape provided in the housing  133 . The recess  1333  may be exemplary provided on a side of the housing  133  opposite to that of the cavity  133 A. As the magnetic element carrier  71  rotates about the shaft portion  1336 , the magnetic element  21  can travel along the recess  1333 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the spring  77  can be respectively connected with the seat shell  102  and the magnetic element carrier  71 , and can bias the magnetic element carrier  71  toward the hold position. For example, the housing  133  affixed to the seat shell  102  can have a stud  1334 , the magnetic element carrier  71  can have another stud  717 , and the spring  77  can have two ends respectively connected with the two studs  1334  and  717 . For ensuring that the magnetic element carrier  71  can suitably stop at the hold position, the housing  133  may be provided with a fixed rib  1335  adapted to limit the rotational course of the magnetic element carrier  71 . When the magnetic element carrier  71  biased by the spring  77  rotates and reaches the hold position, the magnetic element carrier  71  can contact with the fixed rib  1335 , which can stop the magnetic element carrier  71  in the hold position. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10  and  11   , the operating device  50  is assembled with the seat shell  102  at a location distant from the two actuators  70 , and can be respectively connected with the two actuators  70  via the two linking elements  60 . According to an example of construction, the operating device  50  can be disposed in the seat portion  110  of the seat shell  102 , e.g., adjacent to a thigh region of the seat shell  102 . The linking elements  60  can be flexible elements, which may exemplarily include wires, cables, cords and the like. Each linking element  60  may have an end  60 A (better shown in  FIG.  11   ) anchored to the operating device  50 , and another end  60 B (better shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   ) operatively connected with the corresponding magnetic element carrier  71 . The operating device  50  is thereby operable to cause the two magnetic element carriers  71  and the magnetic elements  21  carried thereon to respectively move in parallel from the hold position to the release position for releasing the two buffering parts  11 . 
     Various constructions may be suitable for operatively connecting the end  60 B of each linking element  60  with the corresponding magnetic element carrier  71 . According to an example of construction, the end  60 B of the linking element  60  can be anchored to a driving part  73  that is disposed adjacent to the magnetic element carrier  71 . The driving part  73  can be slidably assembled with the seat shell  102 , and can contact with the magnetic element carrier  71 . For example, the driving part  73  may have a guide slot  731 , and the housing  133  affixed to the seat shell  102  can have one or more protruding ribs  1332  in sliding contact with the guide slot  731 . The driving part  73  can thereby slide relative to the seat shell  102  in a direction K to contact and urge the magnetic element carrier  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position. 
     Moreover, a spring  75  can be respectively connected with the driving part  73  and the seat shell  102 , and can bias the driving part  73  to slide in a direction opposite to the direction K. With this construction, the operating device  50  can be actuated to exert a pulling force through each linking element  60 , which causes the driving part  73  thereof to slide in the direction K and urge the magnetic element carrier  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position. When the operating device  50  is released and no pulling force is exerted through each linking element  60 , the driving part  73  can recover an initial position owing to the biasing force applied by the spring  75 , and the magnetic element carrier  71  can rotate from the release position to the hold position owing to the biasing force applied by the spring  77 . 
     According to an example of construction, the interaction between the magnetic element carrier  71  and the driving part  73  may be achieved via a contact between a flange  715  provided on the magnetic element carrier  71  and an end  733  of a bent arm  735  that is attached to the driving part  73 . For example, the end  733  of the bent arm  735  can contact and urge the magnetic element carrier  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position when the driving part  73  pulled by the linking element  60  slides in the direction K. The bent arm  735  can be elastically deformable, which may facilitate movement of the magnetic element carrier  71  toward the hold position under the biasing force of the spring  77 . 
     The driving part  73  is provided for facilitating driving of the magnetic element carrier  71 . It will be appreciated, however, that other constructions may be possible. For example, a variant construction may omit the driving part  73  and the spring  75  and directly anchor the end  60 B of the linking element  60  to the magnetic element carrier  71 , whereby the operating device  50  can be actuated to exert a pulling force through the linking element  60  that urges the magnetic element carrier  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  10  and  11   , the operating device  50  can include an actuating part  51 , two coupling parts  53 , a shaft  55  and a spring  57 . The two coupling parts  53  can be pivotally connected with the seat shell  102  about a same pivot axis Y extending transversally from a left side to a right side of the seat shell  102 , and can be respectively connected with the ends  60 A of the two linking elements  60 . According to an example of construction, each coupling part  53  can be a casing portion having a generally cylindrical shape, and can be provided with an anchoring portion  535  protruding from an outer periphery thereof. The end  60 A of the linking element  60  can be attached to the anchoring portion  535  of the coupling part  53 . 
     The actuating part  51  can be assembled with the two coupling parts  53 , and can rotate along with the two coupling parts  53  about the pivot pivot axis Y relative to the seat shell  102  for exerting a pulling force through the two linking elements  60 . According to an example of construction, the actuating part  51  can include a rod portion  511  and a mount portion  513  fixedly connected with each other. The actuating part  51  including the rod portion  511  and the mount portion  513  may be formed integrally as a single part. The mount portion  513  of the actuating part  51  can be disposed in a cavity  531  defined at least partially by the two coupling parts  53 , and the rod portion  511  can protrude outward through an opening  533  provided in the two coupling parts  53 . Moreover, the mount portion  513  disposed in the inner cavity  531  is pivotally connected with the two coupling parts  53  about the pivot axis Y, whereby a relative rotation between the actuating part  51  and the two coupling parts  513  is allowed. For example, the mount portion  513  can have a hole  5131 , and the shaft  55  can be disposed through the two coupling parts  53  and the hole  5131  of the mount portion  513  so that the actuating part  51  is pivotally connected with the two coupling parts  53 . The relative rotation between the actuating part  51  and the two coupling parts  53  can be defined, e.g., by a course of the rod portion  511  between two opposite edges of the opening  533 . With this assembly, the actuating part  51  can be pivotally connected with the seat shell  102  via the coupling parts  53 , and can rotate to raise or lower the rod portion  511  with respect to a surface  102 A of the seat shell  102  in the thigh region. 
     The spring  57  can be disposed around the pivot axis Y, and can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the actuating part  51  and the seat shell  102 . According to an example of construction, the spring  57  may be a torsion spring. The spring  57  can bias the actuating part  51  to rotate for raising the rod portion  511  with respect to the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102 . 
     With the aforementioned construction of the operating device  50 , a rotation of the actuating part  51  that moves the rod portion  511  toward the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102  can drive the two coupling parts  53  to rotate in unison in the same direction, which can respectively pull the two linking elements  60  and cause the driving parts  73  attached thereto to respectively move and urge the magnetic element carriers  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position. When no external force is applied on the operating device  50 , the spring  57  can urge the actuating part  51  to rotate for raising the rod portion  511  from the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102 , whereby the pulling force exerted by the actuating part  51  and the coupling parts  53  on the linking elements  60  can be removed and each magnetic element carrier  71  can rotate from the release position to the hold position under the biasing force of the spring  77 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  5  and  9   , each of the two buffering parts  11  can be respectively provided with a latching mechanism  40  operable to lock the buffering part  11  in the second position corresponding to the deployed state. The latching mechanism  40  can be received in a cavity  117  at least partially defined by the two casing portions  113  and  115  of the buffering part  11 , and can include a latch  41 , a spring  43  and a release actuating part  45 . 
     The latch  41  can move between a locking state where the latch  41  is engaged with the pivot support member  131  to lock the buffering part  11  in the second position corresponding to the deployed state, and an unlocking state where the latch  41  is disengaged from the pivot support member  131  for unlocking the buffering part  11  so that the buffering part  11  can rotate relative to the seat shell  102 . According to an example of construction, the latch  41  can be slidably connected with the buffering part  11 , and can slide to engage with or disengage from a notch  1315  (better shown in  FIG.  6   ) provided on the pivot support member  131 . The latch  41  is engaged with the notch  1315  of the pivot support member  131  in the locking state and disengaged from the notch  1315  of the pivot support member  131  in the unlocking state. 
     The spring  43  can have two ends respectively connected with the latch  41  and an inner sidewall of the cavity  117 , and can bias the latch  41  toward the locking state for engaging with the pivot support member  131 . 
     The release actuating part  45  is operable to urge the latch  41  to move from the locking state to the unlocking state. According to an example of construction, the release actuating part  45  can be fixedly connected with the latch  41  and exposed for operation on the buffering part  11 . For example, the release actuating part  45  can include an operating portion  451  and a mount portion  453  fixedly connected with each other, the operating portion  451  being exposed outside the buffering part  11  for operation, and the mount portion  453  being fixedly attached in an opening  411  (better shown in  FIG.  9   ) provided in the latch  41 . The release actuating part  45  can thereby slide along with the latch  41  between the locking state and the unlocking state. 
     Exemplary operation of the side impact protection system  100  is described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 11   . When the child safety seat  200  is unused and has no child placed thereon, each buffering part  11  can be stowed in the first position for convenient storage, and the magnetic element carrier  71  biased by the spring  77  can be in the hold position so that the magnetic interaction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  of the retaining mechanism  20  can hold the buffering part  11  in the first position. Moreover, the biasing force applied by the spring  57  can keep the actuating part  51  of the operating device  50  in position with the rod portion  511  thereof rising at an angle with respect to the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102 . 
     When a child is installed on the child safety seat  200 , the actuating part  51  and the two coupling parts  53  can be urged to rotate in unison in the same direction (e.g., via a manual operation of a caregiver or a contact with the child that pushes the rod portion  511  of the actuating part  51  toward the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102 ), which can respectively pull the two linking elements  60  and cause the driving parts  73  attached thereto to respectively move and urge the magnetic element carriers  71  to rotate from the hold position to the release position. As a result, each buffering part  11  can be released from the hold of the retaining mechanism  20  and can rotate under the biasing force of the spring  30  from the first position corresponding to the stowed state to the second position corresponding to the deployed state. Once the buffering part  11  reaches the second position, the biasing force of the spring  43  can urge the latch  41  to move and engage with the notch  1315  of the pivot support member  131  for locking the buffering part  11  in the second position. 
     For stowing the buffering part  11 , the actuating part  51  can be rotated in a direction that raises the rod portion  511  from the surface  102 A of the seat shell  102 , whereby the pulling force exerted by the actuating part  51  and the coupling parts  53  on the linking elements  60  can be removed and each magnetic element carrier  71  can rotate from the release position to the hold position under the biasing force of the spring  77 . This rotation of the actuating part  51  may be driven by the biasing force of the spring  57  after the child is first removed from the child safety seat  200 . Then the caregiver can operate the release actuating part  45  of the latching mechanism  40  so that the latch  41  is urged to slide and disengage from the notch  1315  of the pivot support member  131 . The buffering part  11  is thereby unlocked, and then can be rotated from the second position to the first position. Once the buffering part  11  is stowed in the first position, the holding force applied by the retaining mechanism  20  can hold the buffering part  11  in position. 
     The aforementioned construction can deploy the buffering parts  11  in a convenient manner. For example, the deployment of the two buffering parts  11  may be triggered by the placement of a child on the child safety seat  200  without requiring a caregiver to perform a manual unlocking step. Accordingly, it can be ensured that the buffering parts  11  are properly deployed for providing protection as soon as a child is installed on the child safety seat  200 . 
     According to a variant embodiment, the operating device  50  and the linking elements  60  may be omitted, the remaining structure being similar to the previous embodiment. In this variant embodiment, each buffering part  11  can be likewise stowed in the first position when the child safety seat  200  is unused, wherein the magnetic interaction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  can hold the buffering part  11  in the first position like previously described. When sideways collision occurs, the collision energy can cause a relative movement between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  of at least one retaining mechanism  20  so that the corresponding buffering part  11  can deploy to the second position under the biasing force of the spring  30 . For example, the collision energy can cause the magnetic element carrier  71  and the magnetic element  21  thereon to move relative to the seat shell  102  from the hold position to the release position for releasing the buffering part  11  from the hold of the retaining mechanism  20 , and the buffering part  11  can then deploy to the second position under the biasing force of the spring  30 . Accordingly, the construction of the retaining mechanism  20  comprised of the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  may facilitate deployment of the buffering part  11  without requiring a caregiver&#39;s intervention. 
     According to another variant embodiment, the operating device  50 , the linking elements  60 , the magnetic element carrier  71  and the spring  77  can be omitted, and the magnetic element  21  may be fixedly connected with the seat shell  102 . In this other variant embodiment, each buffering part  11  can be likewise stowed in the first position when the child safety seat  200  is unused, wherein the magnetic interaction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  close to each other can hold the buffering part  11  in the first position like previously described. When sideways collision occurs, the collision energy can force the buffering part  11  to move relative to the seat shell  102  against the magnetic attraction between the two magnetic elements  21  and  23  and thereby deploy outward to the second position for providing protection. 
     Advantages of the child safety seat described herein include the ability to provide a side impact protection system that can be stowed for compact storage. Moreover, the side impact protection system can be easily deployed in use, which can provide suitable protection during vehicle side collision. 
     Realization of the child safety seat has been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.