Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8210610?dq=5708422
Timestamp: 2017-01-16 20:09:34
Document Index: 531467153

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 202', 'art 202', 'art 204', 'art 202', 'arts 202', 'art 204', 'art 202', 'art 202', 'art 202', 'art.3', 'art.7', 'art.8']

Patent US8210610 - Reconfigurable child seat assembly for a juvenile product - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA child seat for a juvenile product has a seating surface with a first section, a second section, and a seat bight region between the first and second sections. A lap belt is coupled to the child seat near the seat bight region. A first crotch strap is coupled to the child seat on the first section side...http://www.google.com/patents/US8210610?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8210610 - Reconfigurable child seat assembly for a juvenile productAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS8210610 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/498,241Publication dateJul 3, 2012Filing dateJul 6, 2009Priority dateMar 16, 2009Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS8297694, US20100231018, US20100231019, WO2010107453A1Publication number12498241, 498241, US 8210610 B2, US 8210610B2, US-B2-8210610, US8210610 B2, US8210610B2InventorsCindy L. Berkey, John (Jason) C. Arnold, IVOriginal AssigneeGraco Children's Products Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (18), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (3), Classifications (14), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetReconfigurable child seat assembly for a juvenile product
US 8210610 B2Abstract
a child seat including
a seating surface with a first end, a second end, a seat bight, a first section between the first end and the seat bight, and a second section between the second end and the seat bight,
a lap belt extendable from the seating surface,
a first crotch strap extendable from the seating surface and connectable to the lap belt in a first harness configuration positioned between the first end and the seat bight, and
a removable pad insert with a second crotch strap extending therefrom whereby, with the pad insert installed on the seating surface, the second crotch strap is connectable to the lap belt in a second harness configuration positioned between the second end and the lap belt;
a seat frame pivotable between a toddler seat orientation and an infant seat orientation,
a seating surface carried on the seat frame and having a first end, a second end, a seat bight, a first section between the first end and the seat bight, and a second section between the second end and the seat bight,
a toddler crotch strap extendable from the seating surface and connectable to the lap belt in a toddler harness configuration positioned between the first end and the seat bight,
17. A child seat according to claim 16, wherein the pad insert has two of the slots and each of the belt straps is threaded through a corresponding one of the two slots. Description
With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the child seat 26 can be reconfigured or converted from the toddler seat orientation of FIGS. 1 and 4 to the infant seat configuration of FIGS. 2 and 6. In the example shown and described herein, the child seat 26 can be reoriented by pivoting the seat support 24 about the pivot hub 36 and by reorienting the child seat 26 relative to the support 24. In this example, the child seat 26 generally has a pair of frame segments 58 a and 58 b forming a seat frame 60 having an oval shape. The child seat 26 also has a seat structure 62 suspended from the frame. The seat structure 62 defines or forms the seating surface and, in one example, can be a fabric-type sling seat or the like attached to and suspended from the frame 60. In general, the seat frame 60 in this example is pivotally attached to the seat support 24 by a pair of spaced apart seat hubs 64 on the opposite end of the seat support. Each frame segment 58 a and 58 b is curved, forming about half of the oval shape, and has opposed free ends connected to each of the hubs 64. Thus, the seat hubs 64 are positioned on opposite sides of the child seat 26. The child seat 26 can be reoriented by pivoting the seat frame 60 relative to the seat support 24 about the seat hubs 64. As generally shown in FIG. 5, to reconfigure the seat assembly 20 the seat support 24 is pivoted about the pivot hub 36 over the base 30 in this example between the toddler and infant seat positions. In addition, the seat frame 60 is also pivoted as a unit about the seat hubs 64 between the toddler and infant seat orientations.
The gear 206 has a pair of locator pins 220 that project parallel to the seat hub axis from a surface of the gear that faces the housing part 202. A bearing surface 222 is positioned within the housing part 202 and faces the gear 206. The bearing surface 222 is circumferentially spaced from the splined teeth 212 and has two pairs of diametrically opposed locator holes 224 a and 224 b formed in the surface. A position stop 226 projects from the bearing surface 222 adjacent each of the locator holes. Each position stop 226 has a stop face 228 and a ramped surface 229 and thus is wedge-shaped in this example. The locator pins 220 will seat within one of the two pairs of locator holes 224 a or 224 b, depending upon which of the seat orientations is selected, as described in greater detail below.
In operation, the teeth 214 on the gear 206 are normally engaged with both the splined teeth 212 on the housing part 204 and the splined teeth 218 on the housing part 202. In the engaged position, the face of the gear 206 bears against the bearing surface 222 and seats the locator pins 220 in one of the pairs of locator holes 224 a or 224 b. Engagement of the gear teeth 214 with the splined teeth on both of the housing parts 202 and 204, and engagement of the locator pins 220 in the selected pair of locator holes 224 a or 224 b, prevents the seat frame 60 from rotating relative to the support arm 200. In one example, the locator holes 224 a define the infant seat orientation of the seat frame 60 relative to the seat support 24 and the locator holes 224 b define the toddler seat orientation.
In order to reconfigure or reposition the child seat 26, a user can push the buttons 230 inward. By doing so, the guide prongs 234 will push the gear 206 into the housing part 204. This will disengage the gear teeth 214 from the splined teeth 218 on the housing part 202 and will also disengage the locator pins 220 from the locator holes 224 a or 224 b. Once disengaged, the child seat 26 can be rotated relative to the seat support 24. As the child seat 26 is being rotated relative to the seat support 24, the locator pins 220 will ride along the bearing surface 222 and prevent the gear 206 from re-engaging with the teeth 218 in the housing part 202. When the locator pins 220 reach the home position at one of the infant or toddler seat orientations as defined by the locator holes, the pins will be prevented from traveling further by the stop surfaces 228 of the respective stop 226. The locator pins will then fire into the selected locator holes 224 a or 224 b. In this example, releasing the seat locking mechanism at the hubs 64 permits rotation of the child seat 26 between one of the seat orientations. In this example, releasing the seat locking mechanisms also releases the hub locking mechanisms at the pivot hub 36 to permit rotation of the seat support 24 as well. The components of the hub locking mechanism are now described with reference to FIGS. 12-14. As shown in FIG. 13, the button 230 has a wedge or ramp surface 240 on its inner facing surface adjacent one of the guide prongs 234. A first cable connector 242 is slidably received radially into the housing part 202 and has a large slot 244 at one end. The guide prongs 234 and the ramp 240 are captured within the large slot 244. The ramp 240 bears against an end or edge 246 of the slot 244. An opposite end of the first cable connector 242 is coupled to a cable 248 in a conventional manner. In the disclosed example, the support arms 200 are hollow such that the cables 248 on each side of the seat support 24 can be routed through the respective support arm from the cable connector 242 down to the pivot hub 36.
FIGS. 12 and 14 show one side of the pivot hub 36 and a pivot hub center housing 250. A hub cap 252 is connected to each side of the center housing 250 with only one of the hub caps being shown and described. The one end of the support arm 200 is connected to the hub cap 252 and extends in a radial direction as shown from the pivot hub 36. A governor plate 254 is captured between the hub cap 252 and the center housing 250. An arcuate or curved slot 256 is formed in the governor plate 254 in is spaced radially outward from a pivot axle 258 that defines the pivot axis of the pivot hub. Each end of the curved slot 256 has a radially extending notch 260 a and 260 b. A plurality of tabs 259 projects from the governor plate 254 into the center housing 252. The tabs rotationally fix the plate relative to the housing. A guide peg 262 extends in an axial direction through a cap slot 264 in the hub cap 252. The guide peg is affixed to one end of a second cable connector 266. An opposite end of the cable connector 266 is connected to the other end of the cable 248 in a conventional manner. The guide peg 262 is radially offset from the pivot axis and thus the axle 258 and can travel radially along the cap slot 264. In this example, a cover 270 covers the components housed within the hub caps 252.
The support arm 200 and the respective hub cap 252 can pivot relative to the center housing 250 about the axis defined by the axle 258. The guide peg 262 is seated in the curved slot 256 and can travel their along as the support arm 200 is rotated about the hub. A spring 268 (shown only schematically in FIG. 14) biases the second cable connector 266 away from the support arm 200. As the guide peg 262 reaches one end or the other end of the curved slot 256, the guide peg will be aligned with one of the notches 260 a or 260 b. The spring 268 will cause the guide peg to fire into the adjacent notch and prevent further rotation of the support arm 200 and hub cap 252. The spring 268 biases the second cable connector 266 away from the support arm 200, which in turn pulls on the cable 248. The cable 248 will then pull on the first cable connector 242, biasing the end 246 of the large slot 244 against the adjacent guide pin 234 on the push button 230.
When one wishes to reconfigure the seat assembly 20, the buttons 230 can be pushed in to the seat hub housings as described above. This will release the child seat 26 so that it can be re-oriented and moved to the selected toddler or infant seat orientation. By pushing the button 230, the first cable connector 242 will be drawn into the corresponding seat hub 64 via the ramps 240. The first cable connector 242 will as a result pull on the cable 248, which will draw the second cable connector 266 upward toward the respective support arm 200. This in turn will draw the guide peg 262 out of the notch 260 a or 260 b in which it resides and align the guide peg with the curved slot 256. This frees the guide peg 262 to travel along the curved slot 256 allowing the support arm 200 to be pivoted between the infant and toddler seat configurations or positions.
In this example, the seat harness has a lap belt 290 that is connected to the child seat and extendable from the seating surface. The disclosed lap belt 290 has first and second belt straps 292 a and 292 b each with one end coupled to a portion of the child seat. In this example, the one end of each strap 292 a and 292 b is coupled directly to the seating surface or seat structure 62. The opposite end of each of the belt straps 292 a and 292 b terminates at a belt connector 294 a and 294 b. In the disclosed example, a first or toddler crotch strap 296 is connected to a portion of the child seat and extendable from the seating surface. In this example, the toddler crotch strap 296 has one end that is coupled directly to the seating surface or seat structure 62. An opposite end of the toddler crotch strap 296 carries a pair of strap connectors 298 a and 298 b. In this example, the lap belt 290 is positioned near or at the seat bight region 284. The toddler crotch strap 296 is positioned between the first end 280 and the lap belt 290, and thus the seat bight region 284.
The toddler crotch strap 296 and a lap belt 290 can be configured to form a toddler harness configuration for securing a child in the child seat 26 in the toddler seat orientation. The belt connectors 294 a and 294 b can be coupled to and engaged with a respective one of the strap connectors 298 a and 298 b and define a pair of harness buckle assemblies in the toddler orientation. As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the configuration and construction of the buckles including the belt and strap connectors can vary within the spirit and scope of the present invention and yet function as intended. For example, the two separate strap connectors 298 a and 298 b can be replaced by a single buckle connector on the toddler crotch strap capable of engaging each of the belt connectors 294 a and 294 b. In another example, the belt connectors 294 a and 294 b can be configured to connect to and engage one another directly as a buckle assembly. The toddler crotch strap 296 can be configured to couple to the lap belt 290 and the buckle assembly in such an example.
In this example, the pad insert 310 has a lower edge 314 that is positioned adjacent the seat bight region 284 when installed on the child seat 26. The pad insert 310 has a pair of laterally spaced apart slots 316 spaced from but near the lower edge 314. When installed on the seating surface, the pad insert 310 is positioned over the second section 288 with a portion of the pad adjacent the lower edge 314 covering the seat bight region 284. When installed, the pad insert 310 covers the toddler crotch strap 296. The belt straps 292 a and 292 b can be threaded through a respective one of the slots 316 and be exposed for use as part of an infant harness configuration shown in FIG. 17. A second or infant crotch strap 318 extends from the pad insert 310 near or from the lower edge 314. In this example, the infant crotch strap 318 is constructed essentially identical to that of the toddler crotch strap 296. Thus, one end of the strap 318 is connected to the pad insert 310 and the opposite free end carries a pair of strap connectors 320 a and 320 b. A flap 322 is also provided on the free end of the infant crotch strap 318. The strap connectors 320 a and 320 b can engage a respective one of the belt connectors 294 a and 294 b to form a pair of engaged buckle assemblies. The flap 322 can again be folded over the buckle assemblies to cover them during use. In this example, the same lap belt 290 of the child seat 26 is utilized as part of the infant harness configuration and as part of the toddler harness configuration. The pad insert 310 covers the toddler crotch strap 296 and positions the alternate infant crotch strap 318 for use when the pad is installed. As with the first or toddler harness configuration, the second or infant harness configuration can be modified from the disclosed example within the scope of the present invention.
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