Abstract:
An adapter assembly for moving a vehicle child seat longitudinally and rotationally relative to a vehicle seat. The assembly has a bearing base plate, a rotatable turntable disposed on and connected to the bearing base plate, a top plate disposed on and connected to the rotatable turntable, and an adapter plate disposed on and connected to the top plate. The adapter plate is fabricated to couple to a child seat having predetermined dimensions.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 62/158,565 and claims the priority filing date thereof. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to automotive child seats and, more particularly, to an adapter assembly to aid in placing a child in a seat in a motor vehicle and removing the child therefrom. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Child or baby seats for use in vehicles have been shown to protect infants from injury or death in case of automotive crashes when such seats have been used properly. Unfortunately, placing a child into such a seat or removing the child therefrom is often difficult due to the immovability of the seat relative to the vehicle seat on which it rests. 
         [0004]    It would be advantageous to provide a child or baby seat with rotational and/or linear movement capabilities, allowing a caregiver to more easily place an infant or child into such a child seat. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,984,947 for ROTATABLE CHILD SEAT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES issued to Pos on Jul. 26, 2011 discloses a rotatable child seat for motor vehicles, having a base frame and a seat shell system. The base frame is configured to be arranged on a vehicle seat and to be held there by means of an in-vehicle safety belt system. The seat shell system has a seat shell which is rotatable relative to the base frame between a first position, in which the seat shell faces in the direction of travel, and a second position, in which the seat shell faces in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. In order effectively to prevent the seat shell system, when aligned in the second position, from breaking away from the base frame, according to the invention the child seat also has an anchoring belt which, independently of the rotated position of the seat shell system relative to the base frame, is guided by guide means over a predetermined first guide region on the rear side of the seat shell system in such a way that the anchoring belt always passes around the pivot axis and that on rotation of the seat shell system from the first position to the second position and vice versa the anchoring belt passes at least partly between the seat shell system and the base frame. 
         [0006]    United States Published Patent Application No. 201 3/01 5431 8 for ROTATING CHILD SAFETY SEAT published on an application to Van der Veer, et al. on Jun. 20, 2013 discloses a child safety seat comprising at least a head section, a back section and a sitting section, where a base frame is connected through pivot means to the sitting section of the child safety seat, the pivot means preventing the sitting section from separating from the base frame, thereby providing a fixed connection between the sitting section and the base frame under normal utilization of the child safety seat, but allowing the head section, back section and sitting section to rotate sideways about a pivot axis in the event of a collision. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,449 for ROTATING CHILD&#39;S SEAT issued to Holman on Sep. 1, 1987 discloses a rotating child&#39;s seat for mounting in the seat backrest of a vehicle, which rotating child&#39;s seat includes a rotating frame having a seat portion attached to one side thereof and a padded back portion secured to the opposite side. The rotating frame is rotatably mounted on fixed supports located in a bifurcation provided in the center section of the seat backrest. When located in functional configuration, the seat portion of the rotating child&#39;s seat faces forwardly of the backrest and extends over the rear bench seat in the vehicle to position a child securely in the back seat of the vehicle. When the rotating child&#39;s seat is not in use the rotating frame can be rotated or pivoted on pivot pins linking the rotating frame to the fixed supports, in order to position the back portion in alignment with the bifurcated backrest to accommodate one or more additional adults in the rear seat of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is an adapter assembly for moving a vehicle child seat longitudinally and rotationally relative to a vehicle seat. The assembly has a bearing base plate, a rotatable turntable disposed on and connected to the bearing base plate, a top plate disposed on and connected to the rotatable turntable, and an adapter plate disposed on and connected to the top plate. The adapter plate is fabricated to couple to a child seat having predetermined dimensions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawing, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric front view of the adapter assembly of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric rear view of the adapter assembly of the invention illustrating LATCH connectors secured to a LATCH connector support bracket; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric front view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  without the adapter plate; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric front view of the invention without the adapter plate or top plate, exposing the turntable bearing and bearing base plate; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the bearing base plate assembly shown in 
           [0015]      FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the invention without the adapter plate or the bearing base plate assembly; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the arm shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a right angled projection of the arm shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a photographic view of the adapter assembly of the invention secured to a vehicle via the use of the LATCH connectors; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a photographic view of the invention moving the child seat forward; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a photographic view of the invention rotating the child seat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Although the following detailed description contains specific details for the purposes of illustration, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
         [0023]    The present invention is an adapter assembly for use with a child or baby seat that provides rotational and/or linear movement capabilities, allowing a caregiver to more easily place an infant or child into such a child seat. The adapter assembly has a number of stacked components including a bearing base plate, a rotatable turntable, a top plate, and an adapter plate disposed on and connected to the top plate. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an isometric front view of the adapter assembly of the invention. Arms  16   a,    16   b  are secured to the bottom plate  10 . A LATCH connector support bracket  12  is attached to bottom plate  10 . LATCH connectors  14   a ,  14   b  are affixed to the LATCH connector support bracket  12 . Arms  16   a,    16   b  house various components that aid in supporting the bearing base plate assembly which is shown in  FIG. 5 . The bearing base plate assembly partially consists of a bearing base plate  34 , a turn table bearing  42  (not shown), and a top plate  46 . The turn table bearing  42  is attached to the top of the bearing base plate  34 . Attached to the top of the turn table bearing  42  is the top plate  46 . Above the top plate  46  is secured the adapter plate  50 . A handle  48  is pivotally attached to the upper portion of top plate  46 . The handle  48  is a rigid fixture that allows caregivers to more effectively apply a torque to the top plate  46 , ultimately rotating the child seat. Pawl toggles  26   a,    26   b  are connected to the ends of the pawl connecting bar  24  (not shown). The pawl connecting bar  24  is inserted into bearings  32   b,    32   e  (not shown), which are secured into apertures of the arms  14   a,    14   b  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an isometric rear view of the adapter assembly of the invention. LATCH connectors  14   a,    14   b  are secured to the LATCH connector support bracket  12 . The LATCH connector support bracket  12  is secured to bottom plate  10 . 
         [0026]    Motor vehicles of model year 2003 or later have metal u-shaped anchors between the seat cushions in the rear of a vehicle (not shown). The LATCH connectors  14   a,    14   b  secure the adapter assembly to the frame of a vehicle via the use of these u-shaped anchors. In the event that the adapter assembly experiences a sudden force, such as sudden braking or when an accident occurs, LATCH connectors  14   a,    14   b  prevent the adapter assembly from moving in a direction collinear to the force. The LATCH connector support bracket  12  provides a rigid support fixture to connect the LATCH connectors  14   a,    14   b  to the adapter assembly. The LATCH connector support bracket&#39;s  12  rigidity allows for easy installation and uninstallation of the adapter assembly to the motor vehicle. 
         [0027]    The adapter plate  50  is fabricated to fit with a particular child seat. Adapter plate  50  can be coupled with the underside of the child seat, not shown. The coupling prevents the child seat from shifting or changing position when a small force is applied, such as would be experienced when a caregiver moves the child seat forward, backward, or rotates it. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an isometric front view of the adapter assembly without the adapter plate  50 . This exposes the top plate  46 , which secures the adapter plate  50  to the adapter assembly. The top plate  46  is secured to the top of a turntable bearing  42  ( FIG. 4 ), not shown in this  FIG. 3 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an isometric front view of the adapter assembly without adapter plate  50  or top plate  46 , exposing the turntable bearing  42  and bearing base plate  34 . Turntable bearing  42  is secured to both the top plate  46  and bearing base plate  34 . Turntable bearing  42  provides the rotational capabilities to the invention. In addition, turntable bearing  42  contains four detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c,  and  44   d  placed at  90  degree increments to one another. The detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c,    44   d  create a ‘soft-locking’ mechanism, which allow the caregiver to easily position the child seat in both a forward facing and outboard facing position. For instance, when a caregiver wants to remove a child from a child seat, the caregiver will move the child seat in a forward direction and then rotate the child seat to an outboard position. The detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c,    44   d  allow the caregiver to easily move the child seat in a forward direction by resisting unintentional rotational forces, until at such time the caregiver wishes to rotate the child seat. Once the child seat is rotated, the detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c ,  44   d  hold the child seat in the outboard position, allowing the caregiver to easily remove the child from the child seat. If a normal turntable bearing were used in place of one with detents, the incline of a vehicle&#39;s seat would cause unwanted rotation of the child seat. Similarly, when a caregiver is placing a child into the child seat, the detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c,    44   d  hold the child seat in an outboard position, preventing unwanted rotation. The caregiver can then rotate the child seat to a forward facing position, where the detents  44   a,    44   b,    44   c,    44   d  will again hold the child seat, allowing the caregiver to move the child seat in rearward direction, ultimately bringing the rear of the child seat in contact with the backrest of the vehicle&#39;s seat. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an isometric view of the bearing base plate assembly in greater detail. Bearing base plate assembly consists of the top plate  46 , handle  48 , turntable bearing  42  (not shown), bearing base plate  34 , racks  36   a  and  36   b,  support brackets  38   a  and  38   b,  a support bracket axle  40 , and bearings  32   c  and  32   d  attached to the ends of support bracket axle  40 . Bearings  32   c  and  32   d  aid in the linear motion of the invention. Top plate  46  is secured to turntable bearing  42 , which is in turn secured to bearing base plate  34 . Racks  36   a,    36   b  and support brackets  38   a,    38   b  are secured to the underside of bearing base plate  34 . Support bracket axle  40  is placed between support brackets  38   a,    38   b.  Furthermore, support brackets  38   a,    38   b  properly position the support bracket axle  40  and bearings  32   c,    32   d  such that the bearing base plate assembly remains level when the racks  36   a,    36   b  mesh with the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b  ( FIG. 7 ), not shown in this  FIG. 5 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an isometric view of the adapter assembly without the adapter plate  50  or bearing base plate assembly. This exposes the arms  16 ,  16   b,  pawl toggles  26   a,    26   b,  pawl connecting bar  24 , and bottom plate  10 . 
         [0032]    The bottom plate  10  secures both arms  16   a  and  16   b.  The arms  16   a  and  16   b  house various components. The racks  36   a  and  36   b  of the bearing base plate assembly are housed in the upper tracks  17   a,    17   b  of the arms  16   a,    16   b.  The bearings  32   c  and  32   d  from the bearing base plate assembly are housed in the lower tracks  19   a,    19   b  of the arms  16 ,  16   b.  In addition, the arms  16   a,    16   b  house the pinion gears  18   a  and  18   b,  the pinion gear shafts  20   a  and  20   b,  the pawls  22   a  and  22   b,  the ball bearings  30   a  and  30   b,  the springs  28   a  and  28   b,  and the bearings  32   a,    32   b,    32   e,  and  32   f.    
         [0033]    The pawl toggles  26   a  and  26   b  are secured to the ends of the pawl connecting bar  24 . The pawls  22   a,    22   b  are also secured to the pawl connecting bar  24 . When either of the pawl toggles  26   a  or  26   b  are rotated, the pawl connecting bar  24  and pawls  22   a,    22   b  are also rotated, transmitting the rotational motion from one side of the adapter assembly to the other. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a cross sectional view of the arm. The pinion gear  18   a  is secured to the pinion gear shaft  20   a,  which is in turn secured to the bearing  32   a.  The racks  36   a,    36   b  from the bearing base plate assembly mesh with pinion gears  18   a  and  18   b.  Together the racks  36   a,    36   b  and the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b,  pinion gear shafts  20   a,    20   b,  and bearings  32   a,    32   f  aid in the linear motion of the adapter assembly. When the racks  36   a,    36   b  are moved either forward or backward, the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b  will rotate. Depending upon the pawl toggles  26   a,    26   b  orientation the pawls  22   a,    22   b  will either engage with or will not engage with the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b.  If the pawl toggles  26   a,    26   b  are positioned such that the pawls  22   a,    22   b  mesh with the pinion gears  18   a    18   b,  the ball bearings  30   a,    30   b  and springs  28   a,    28   b  will exert a torque on the pawls  22   a,    22   b,  keeping the pawls  22   a,    22   b  engaged with the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b.  If the racks  36   a,    36   b  are moved in a direction that causes the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b  and pawls  22   a,    22   b  to rotate towards one another, the pawls  22   a,    22   b  will obstruct the rotation of the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b.  This in turn will not allow the racks  36   a,    36   b  to move in the currently desired direction. However, if the racks  36   a,    36   b  are moved in a direction that causes the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b  and pawls  22   a,    22   b  to rotate away from one another, the pinion gears  18   a,    18   b  will exert a torque on the pawls  22   a ,  22   b  causing the pawls  22   a,    22   b  to rotate. The rotation of the pawls  22   a,    22   b  will also cause the ball bearings  30   a,    30   b  to compress the springs  28   a,    28   b.    
         [0035]    The length of the lower tracks  19   a,    19   b  limits the distance the child seat can be moved forward or backward. As the child seat is moved forward or backward, the bearings  32   c,    32   d  from the bearing base plate assembly are obstructed by the ends of the lower tracks  19   a,    19   b.    
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a right angled projection of the arm. Two bearings  30   a,    30   b  are secured to the arm  16   a.  The pinion gear shaft  20   a  is secured to one of the bearings  30   a,  while the pawl connecting bar  24  is secured to the other bearing  30   b.  The bearing  30   b  that is secured to the pawl connection bar  24  aids in the rotational motion of the pawl connecting bar  24  and pawl  22   a.  The pinion gear  18   a  is secured to the opposite end of the pinion gear shaft  20   a.    
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a photographic view of the adapter assembly secured to a vehicle via the use of the LATCH connectors  14   a,    14   b.  The child seat is secured to the adapter assembly by its coupling with the adapter plate  50 . The seat belt of the vehicle is routed through the rear of the child seat and secured to its respective buckle. If the vehicle&#39;s seat belt is loose, excess material is fed back into the vehicle&#39;s tensioners, firmly securing the child seat to the vehicle. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a photographic view of the adapter assembly moving the child seat forward. This action creates enough space for the child seat to rotate, clearing the backrest of the vehicle&#39;s seat. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a photographic view of the adapter assembly rotating the child seat. This action allows the child seat to face an outboard position, in turn allowing the caregiver to more easily place the child into and out of the vehicle. The caregiver will also experience less strain as a result. 
         [0040]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of this disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which does not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0041]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.