Patent Description:
Child safety seats are used for transporting children in vehicles. They are designed specifically to protect children from injury or death during vehicle collisions. Commonly, the child safety seats have a chassis which is being fixed into the car by a main seat belt or a specially designed fixing system (such as the ISOFIX). Thus, usually the child safety seats have their own passive restraints, which ought to be adjusted individually for each child.

Some of the child safety seats have reclining mechanisms for adjusting an angle of inclination of the backrest or of the bottom of the child seat. However, a common disadvantage of such seats is that during the inclination adjustment, the angle between the backrest and the bottom of the seat changes which results in the necessity to adjust the restraints (child safety seat belts) and the body supporting elements of the seat. In some situations, adjustment of the adult seat belt which holds the child safety seat is also necessary. An example of a child vehicle seat which can be tilted is described in <CIT>.

There is a need to provide a new design of a reclining mechanism for a child safety seat wherein at least some of the problems discussed in the background would be at least reduced.

The object of the invention is a mechanism for a child safety seat, wherein the child safety seat has a base and a seating portion with a backrest. The mechanism comprises a first longitudinal support located at a first side of the base; a second longitudinal support located at a second side of the base opposite the first side and in parallel to the first longitudinal support; a platform for mounting the seating portion with the backrest thereon, wherein the platform is mounted to the longitudinal supports; wherein the first longitudinal support has a bottom portion with a pair of first longitudinal sockets located at its first end and a first pivotable mount located at its second end, and has a top portion with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the first longitudinal sockets and a second end mounted pivotally to a first bracket which is mounted pivotally to the first pivotable mount; wherein the second longitudinal support has a bottom portion with a pair of second longitudinal sockets located at its first end and a second pivotable mount located at its second end, and has a top portion with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the second longitudinal sockets and a second end mounted pivotally to a second bracket which is mounted pivotally to the second pivotable mount; a lever mounted to the platform between the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support, for lifting and lowering a front end of the platform; an extendable element which is at a first end mounted pivotally to the base and at a second end mounted pivotally to the lever; and a release button for activating the extendable element to push the platform towards the inclined position.

The extendable element can be a gas spring.

The lever may protrude outside the base.

Each longitudinal socket of the bottom portion may have a length equal to a length of the top portion plus a length of the bracket of the corresponding longitudinal support.

The mechanism may further comprise a rotating mechanism located in the base for rotating the seating portion with the back rest along an axis perpendicular to the platform.

The rotating mechanism may comprise a rotary disc mounted in the base, wherein the seat is mounted on the rotary disc, wherein the rotary disc is rotatable about a vertical axis Y within a given angular range with respect to the base; a side lever with a blocking element, movable with respect to the base between a first position in which the possibility of rotating the rotary disc is blocked and a second position, in which the rotary disc may rotate; wherein the rotary disc has a notch coupled with the blocking element in such a way, that in the first position a tip of the blocking element is located in the notch and in the second position the tip of the blocking element is located outside the notch.

The side lever may comprise a spring, which forces the side lever to automatically return to the first position when the seat is in parallel to the base.

The side lever may have a handle that extends beyond the outline of the base.

The base may comprise two slots one on the left side and one on the right side of the seat, wherein the side lever is detachably fastened in the selected socket.

The rotary disc may have protruding pins located in the first pair of arcuate openings in the platform of the base which constitute a guide for the pin.

The platform may have a second pair of arcuate openings constituting a guide for the pins protruding from the seat.

The invention also relates to a child safety seat comprising the mechanism as described herein.

The invention is shown by means of example embodiments on a drawing, in which:.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

The reclining mechanism, as shown in <FIG> and 2A-2D is designed for use with a child safety seat such as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The child safety seat has a base <NUM> and a seating portion <NUM> with a backrest <NUM>.

The reclining mechanism comprises two longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> located at a first side and a second side of the base <NUM>, respectively. The longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> are used for mounting thereon a platform <NUM> for mounting the seating portion <NUM> with the backrest <NUM>.

The first longitudinal support <NUM> has a bottom portion <NUM> with a pair of first longitudinal sockets <NUM> located at its first end and a first pivotable mount <NUM> located at its second end. Similarly, the second longitudinal support <NUM> has a bottom portion <NUM> with a pair of second longitudinal sockets <NUM> located at its first end and a second pivotable mount <NUM> located at its second end. Each of the longitudinal sockets <NUM>, <NUM> may have a form of a pair of sockets distanced from each other and being in parallel to each other, wherein a bolt for mounting the first end of the top portion <NUM>, <NUM> is passing through the openings in the respective pair.

The first longitudinal support <NUM> has a top portion <NUM> with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the first longitudinal sockets <NUM> and a second end mounted pivotally to a first bracket <NUM> which is mounted pivotally to the first pivotable mount <NUM>. Similarly, the second longitudinal support <NUM> has a top portion <NUM> with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the second longitudinal sockets <NUM> and a second end mounted pivotally to a second bracket <NUM> which is mounted pivotally to the second pivotable mount <NUM>.

A lever <NUM> is mounted to the platform <NUM> between the first longitudinal support <NUM> and the second longitudinal support <NUM>. The lever <NUM> is used for lifting and lowering a front end of the platform <NUM>. The lever <NUM> may protrude outside the base <NUM> to make it easily accessible for a user. However, in other embodiments the end of the lever <NUM> may be less accessible to reduce a risk of its accidental actuation.

An extendable element <NUM>, in this case a pushing gas spring, is pivotally mounted at its first end to the base <NUM> and at its second end it is mounted pivotally to the lever <NUM>. The extendable element <NUM> is coupled with a release button <NUM> that activates the extendable element <NUM> to push the platform <NUM> towards the inclined position.

The reclining mechanism enables effecting pivotal movement of the seat i.e. the seating portion <NUM> along with the backrest <NUM>, namely so-called "tilt" movement, by means of a single lever, while maintaining a constant, unchanged angle between the backrest <NUM> and the seating portion <NUM>. The advantage of such a solution is that there is no need to adjust the supports that stabilize the torso of the occupant and the harness every time the angle of the seat is changed.

The change of the angle of inclination of the platform <NUM> which is attached to the surface of the longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> (and the seating portion with the backrest mounted thereon) is possible by activating the release button <NUM>. This causes activation of the extendable element <NUM> and in effect causes the lifting movement. The force that causes the lift of the front portion of the seat is provided by the extendable element <NUM> at least in part, therefore facilitates the handling of the safety seat by the user. After releasing the extendable element <NUM>, the lever <NUM> can be pushed upwards, which causes the second ends of the longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> to move upwards together with the front end of the platform <NUM>, while the first ends of the longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> slide forward and pivot in the longitudinal sockets <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, the seat is moved forward and the front part of the seat is moved upwards providing an inclination to the seat.

The bottom portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted to the base <NUM>. Preferably the bottom portions <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted to the bottom side of the base <NUM> by means of screws or nuts and bolts or rivets. Preferably each longitudinal socket <NUM>, <NUM> of the bottom portion <NUM>, <NUM> has a length substantially equal to a length of the top portion <NUM>, <NUM> plus a length of the bracket <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. Thus, when the platform <NUM> is in a horizontal position, the top portion <NUM>, <NUM> is substantially aligned with the bracket <NUM>, <NUM>. On the other hand when the platform <NUM> is in an inclined position, the top portion <NUM>, <NUM> and the bracket <NUM>, <NUM> respectively are arranged such that an angle α between them is lower than <NUM> degrees.

In other embodiments each bottom portion <NUM>, <NUM> may constitute separate mountings - the first being the longitudinal sockets <NUM>, <NUM> and the second being the pivotal mount <NUM>, <NUM>. Then the distance between the longitudinal sockets <NUM>, <NUM> and the pivotal mount <NUM>, <NUM> is such that when the platform <NUM> is in a horizontal position the top portion <NUM>, <NUM> is substantially aligned with the bracket <NUM>, <NUM> respectively.

The base <NUM> may have a form of a rectangular plate, constituting the bottom side of the base <NUM>, with four side walls, wherein a height of the side walls is substantially equal to a height of the longitudinal supports <NUM>, <NUM>.

The platform <NUM> can be mounted to the surface of the top portions <NUM>, <NUM> by means of screws or nuts and bolts or rivets.

The seating portion <NUM> with the backrest <NUM> may be fixed immovably to the platform <NUM> or may be mounted rotatably with respect to the platform <NUM> by means of a rotating mechanism to allow rotation of the seat along an axis perpendicular to the platform <NUM>.

The rotating mechanism allows the seat (i.e. the seating portion <NUM> with the backrest <NUM>) to be rotated about a vertical axis Y by a desired angle, for example <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> degrees, with respect to the base <NUM> which is attached to the vehicle seat. The rotation of the seat facilitates accommodating the child in the seat. Thus, the seat can be set to a first position (i.e. the driving position - at an angle of <NUM> degrees with respect to the base <NUM>), in which it faces the driving direction of the vehicle, and from said first position it can be smoothly rotated to a second position (i.e. to the entry/exit position), in which it is oriented towards the vehicle door and thus transversely to the driving direction. The first position may be locked (so that the seat does not deflect from this position), wherein the second position does not have to be locked (so that the seat may be easily and quickly turned back to the first position and locked in that first position). Thus, the seat <NUM> is moved to the second position in order to facilitate accommodating the child in the seat. After fastening the child with the belts, the seat should be set to the first position to start driving. Again, in order to facilitate removing the child from the seat, the seat shall be moved to the second position.

A rotary disc <NUM> is mounted in the base, wherein the seat <NUM> is mounted on the rotary disc <NUM>. The rotary disc <NUM> is rotatable about the vertical axis Y in the range of a desired angle, for example <NUM> degrees with respect to the base <NUM>, thus allowing the seat to be rotated.

The rotary disc <NUM> has a notch <NUM> into which a locking element <NUM> mounted on a side lever <NUM> may be received. The side lever <NUM> is movable with respect to the base <NUM> between a first position wherein the rotation of the rotary disc <NUM> is blocked, because a tip of the locking element <NUM> located in the notch <NUM>, and a second position wherein the rotary disc <NUM> may rotate as the tip of locking element <NUM> is outside the notch <NUM>.

The side lever <NUM> comprises a spring <NUM> which biases the side lever <NUM> to return to the first position when the seat is in the vehicle driving position, thereby facilitating the operation of the mechanism. After the side lever <NUM> is extended (i.e. moved to its second position) and the seat <NUM> is rotated beyond its first position (i.e. by an angle greater than zero degrees), the tip of the locking element <NUM> abuts the outer edge of the rotary disc <NUM>, thereby maintaining the side lever <NUM> in the second position. After rotating the seat <NUM> to its first position, the spring <NUM> causes the side lever <NUM> to return to the first position, thereby causing the tip of the locking element <NUM> to slide into the notch <NUM> thereby blocking the possibility of rotation of the seat.

In the presented example, the side lever <NUM> may be located on a side portion of the base and has a handle <NUM> extending beyond the outline of the base <NUM> to facilitate the movement of the side lever <NUM> to its second position. However, various other positions for the lever are possible, for example hidden so as to prevent accidental displacement of the side lever <NUM>.

The rotary disc <NUM> is mounted rotatably to the platform <NUM> by means of a ring <NUM>, which protrudes through a central opening <NUM> of the platform <NUM>. The seat <NUM> is mounted to the upper side of the ring <NUM>.

The range of rotation of the rotary disc <NUM> is defined by the pins <NUM>, <NUM> protruding from the rotary disc <NUM>, each of which is located in an arcuate opening <NUM>, <NUM> in the platform <NUM> of the base, constituting the guide for the respective pin <NUM>, <NUM>. However, various other ways of limiting the extent of rotation of the disc <NUM> are possible.

The platform <NUM> further comprises a second pair of arcuate openings <NUM>, <NUM> which guide the bolts protruding from the underside of the seat. This allows to increase the stability of the seat movement with respect to the base <NUM>.

Both the first pair and the second pair of arcuate openings limit the rotation of the seat to a range from <NUM> to a predetermined angle, for example <NUM> degrees.

Depending on the needs, the side lever may be alternately mounted on the left side of the seat or on the right side of the seat in sockets <NUM>, 64P configured to receive the side lever <NUM>. In order to change the location of the side lever <NUM> it is necessary to disconnect the seating portion <NUM> with the backrest <NUM> from the base <NUM> and to remove the platform <NUM> together with the rotary disk <NUM>. Then, the side lever <NUM> is removed from one socket <NUM> by moving the side lever <NUM> towards the center of the base <NUM>, which is now possible because the rotating disk <NUM> was previously removed together with the platform <NUM>, to which it can be attached. Then, after placing the side lever <NUM> on the opposite side of the base <NUM> in the second socket 64P, it is necessary to rotate the disk <NUM> so that, when it placed with the platform <NUM> on the base <NUM>, the notch <NUM> is directed towards the locking member <NUM> of the side lever <NUM>. In this case, it may also be necessary to replace the current base <NUM> with the one that has mirroring arrangement of the openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Various embodiments of the seat are possible, such as a seat having the reclining mechanism only (without the rotating mechanism), a seat having the rotating mechanism only (without the reclining mechanism) or a seat having both the reclining and rotating mechanism.

Claim 1:
A mechanism for a child safety seat, wherein the child safety seat has a base (<NUM>) and a seating portion (<NUM>) with a backrest (<NUM>), the mechanism comprising:
- a first longitudinal support (<NUM>) located at a first side of the base (<NUM>);
- a second longitudinal support (<NUM>) located at a second side of the base (<NUM>) opposite the first side and in parallel to the first longitudinal support (<NUM>);
- a platform (<NUM>) for mounting the seating portion (<NUM>) with the backrest (<NUM>) thereon, wherein the platform (<NUM>) is mounted to the longitudinal supports (<NUM>, <NUM>);
- wherein the first longitudinal support (<NUM>) has a bottom portion (<NUM>) with a pair of first longitudinal sockets (<NUM>) located at its first end and a first pivotable mount (<NUM>) located at its second end, and has a top portion (<NUM>) with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the first longitudinal sockets (<NUM>) and a second end mounted pivotally to a first bracket (<NUM>) which is mounted pivotally to the first pivotable mount (<NUM>);
- wherein the second longitudinal support (<NUM>) has a bottom portion (<NUM>) with a pair of second longitudinal sockets (<NUM>) located at its first end and a second pivotable mount (<NUM>) located at its second end, and has a top portion (<NUM>) with a first end mounted slidably and pivotally to the second longitudinal sockets (<NUM>) and a second end mounted pivotally to a second bracket (<NUM>) which is mounted pivotally to the second pivotable mount (<NUM>);
- a lever (<NUM>) mounted to the platform (<NUM>) between the first longitudinal support (<NUM>) and the second longitudinal support (<NUM>), for lifting and lowering a front end of the platform (<NUM>);
- an extendable element (<NUM>) which is at a first end mounted pivotally to the base (<NUM>) and at a second end mounted pivotally to the lever (<NUM>); and
- a release button (<NUM>) for activating the extendable element (<NUM>) to push the platform (<NUM>) towards the inclined position.