Patent Description:
A child safety seat is typically used in an automobile vehicle to properly restrain a child in the event of accidental collision. In particular, it is well known that the installation of a child safety seat in a rearward facing position can offer better protection because it allows the collision energy to be dispersed across a larger area of the child's body (i.e., the child's torso and head). Accordingly, safety experts and car seat manufacturers usually recommend to seat a child in the rearward facing position till the age of <NUM> years. As the child grows older, the child safety seat may be installed in the forward facing position.

Some existing child safety seats allow to rotationally adjust a child seat between the rearward facing position and the forward facing position, and can further set the child seat in a sideways facing position for facilitating retrieval or placement of a child. However, because the support base of the child safety seat is attached on a vehicle seat at a location that is usually not distant from the vehicle door, the child seat may adversely collide against the vehicle door when it rotates toward the sideways facing position.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved child safety seat that allows flexible adjustment and address at least the foregoing issues.

The present invention describes a child seat that is more flexibly adjustable and can offer a more convenient use.

The invention is set forth by a child seat comprising the technical features of claim <NUM>.

<FIG> are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat <NUM> in different positions. Referring to <FIG>, the child safety seat <NUM> includes a support base <NUM>, and a child seat <NUM> disposed on the support base <NUM>. The support base <NUM> is adapted to be installed on a vehicle seat, and can provide stable support for the child safety seat <NUM>. The support base <NUM> can have a suitable structure for positioning the child seat <NUM> on the support base <NUM> in different orientations, such as a forward facing position shown in <FIG>, a rearward facing position shown in <FIG>, and a sideways facing position shown in <FIG>.

In conjunction with <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the support base <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, according to an example of construction, the support base <NUM> can include a shell body <NUM>, a rotary platform <NUM>, two latch devices <NUM> and a support leg <NUM>. The shell body <NUM> can have an end forming a support panel <NUM> protruding upward. The two latch devices <NUM> can be assembled with the shell body <NUM>, and can be disposed at a left and a right side of the shell body <NUM> adjacent to the support panel <NUM>. The support base <NUM> can be installed on a vehicle seat with the support panel <NUM> adjacent to a seatback of the vehicle seat to provide support, and the two latch devices <NUM> can releasably engage with an anchor structure (e.g., ISOFIX anchor) provided in the vehicle to lock the support base <NUM> in place on the vehicle seat. The support leg <NUM> can be connected with the shell body <NUM> at an end thereof opposite to the end where are provided the latch devices <NUM>, and can extend downward from a bottom of the shell body <NUM>. In use, the support leg <NUM> extending from the bottom of the shell body <NUM> can contact against a floor of a vehicle in front of the vehicle seat on which the support base <NUM> is installed, which can prevent adverse rotation of the child safety seat <NUM> toward the front of the vehicle.

The rotary platform <NUM> is pivotally connected with the shell body <NUM> about a pivot axis Z, and is adapted to receive the installation of the child seat <NUM>. The pivot axis Z can vertically pass through the rotary platform <NUM>, and can extend vertically or slightly tilted an angle (e.g., about <NUM> degrees to about <NUM> degrees) relative to a vertical axis. The rotary platform <NUM> can be provided with a plurality of latches <NUM> that are operatively connected with a release actuator <NUM>. When the child seat <NUM> is installed on the rotary platform <NUM>, the latches <NUM> can engage with the child seat <NUM> so that the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> are locked to each other. The release actuator <NUM> is operable to cause the latches <NUM> to move and disengage from the child seat <NUM> for removing the child seat <NUM> from the rotary platform <NUM>. According to an example of construction, the rotary platform <NUM> can have a protruding portion <NUM>, and four latches <NUM> can be provided on the protruding portion <NUM>.

After they are locked to each other, the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> can rotate in unison about the pivot axis Z relative to the shell body <NUM>, whereby the child seat <NUM> can be positioned in different orientations. For example, <FIG> illustrates the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> in a forward facing position, <FIG> illustrates the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> in a rearward facing position, and <FIG> illustrates the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> in a sideways facing position. When the child safety seat <NUM> is installed in the forward facing position on a vehicle seat, a child can sit on the child seat <NUM> facing a forward direction of the vehicle. When the child safety seat <NUM> is installed in the rearward facing position on a vehicle seat, a child can sit on the child seat <NUM> facing the seatback of the vehicle seat. When the child safety seat <NUM> is set in the sideways facing position, a child can sit on the child seat <NUM> facing a door of the vehicle. An angular displacement between the forward facing position and the sideways facing position can be about <NUM> degrees, and an angular displacement between the rearward facing position and the sideways facing position can also be about <NUM> degrees.

The support base <NUM> may include a plurality of latching parts (not shown) for locking the child seat <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> in any of the forward facing position, the rearward facing position and the sideways facing position. For example, the shell body <NUM> can be assembled with a plurality of latching parts operable to move upward for locking engagement with the rotary platform <NUM> and downward for disengaging from the rotary platform <NUM>.

In conjunction with <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the child seat <NUM>, and <FIG> is a partially exploded view illustrating some construction details of the child seat <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the child seat <NUM> includes a seat shell <NUM>, and a retractable front end part <NUM>. The seat shell <NUM> can be installed on the support base <NUM>, e.g., by engaging a bottom structure of the seat shell <NUM> with the rotary platform <NUM> of the support base <NUM>. Once they are locked to each other, the seat shell <NUM> and the rotary platform <NUM> can rotate in unison relative to the shell body <NUM> so that the seat shell <NUM> can be positioned in different orientations, such as the forward facing position of <FIG>, the rearward facing position of <FIG>, and the sideways facing position of <FIG>.

The seat shell <NUM> can have a front end <NUM>, a seat portion <NUM>, a backrest portion <NUM> and two sidewalls <NUM>. The seat portion <NUM> can extend between the front end <NUM> and the backrest portion <NUM>, and the two sidewalls <NUM> can respectively protrude upward from the seat portion <NUM> at a left and a right side thereof. An interior space of the seat shell <NUM> suitable for receiving a child can be defined at least partially between the two sidewalls <NUM>.

Each sidewall <NUM> can have a hollow structure, which can include two opposite sidewall surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, a sidewall edge <NUM>, and an inner cavity <NUM> (better shown in <FIG>) between the two sidewall surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the sidewall surface <NUM> can face the interior space of the seat shell <NUM>, and the sidewall surface <NUM> can face an outer side of the seat shell <NUM>. The sidewall edge <NUM> can be located above the seat portion <NUM>, can be respectively connected with the two sidewall surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, and can extend to the front end <NUM> of the seat shell <NUM> with an inclination so that a front portion of the sidewall edge <NUM> can face forward. The inner cavity <NUM> of the sidewall <NUM> can be delimited at least partially by the two sidewall surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> and the sidewall edge <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the front end <NUM> of the seat shell <NUM> can have an opening <NUM>, which can extend transversally relative to the seat shell <NUM> and can be respectively connected with the inner cavities <NUM> of the two sidewalls <NUM>. The front end part <NUM> can be pivotally connected with the seat shell <NUM>, whereby the front end part <NUM> can rotate relative to the seat shell <NUM> between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the deployed position, the front end part <NUM> can extend outside the opening <NUM>, and can project forward and downward. In the retracted position, the front end part <NUM> can be stowed and received at least partially inside the opening <NUM>. More specifically, the front end part <NUM> can have a transversal portion <NUM> and two side portions <NUM>, the transversal portion <NUM> extending along a width direction of the seat shell <NUM>. According to an example of construction, the transversal portion <NUM> can have a curved shape. The two side portions <NUM> can be respectively connected with the transversal portion <NUM>, and can bend from the transversal portion <NUM> symmetrical to each other. According to an example of construction, the front end part <NUM> including the transversal portion <NUM> and the two side portions <NUM> can be formed integrally as a single part.

The two side portions <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> are respectively connected pivotally with the two sidewalls <NUM> of the seat shell <NUM>, whereby the front end part <NUM> can rotate relative to the seat shell <NUM> between the deployed position and the retracted position. According to an example of construction, each side portion <NUM> may have a coupling end <NUM>, wherein the coupling end <NUM> can be fixedly connected with and protrude outward from the side portion <NUM>. The coupling ends <NUM> of the two side portions <NUM> can be respectively disposed inside the inner cavities <NUM> of the two sidewalls <NUM>, and can be respectively connected pivotally with the two sidewalls <NUM> via two pivot shafts <NUM>. The front end part <NUM> is thereby pivotally connected with the two sidewalls <NUM> about a pivot axis Y defined by the pivot shafts <NUM>, which can be located above the seat portion <NUM>. Each side portion <NUM> can have a width that is smaller than a width of the inner cavity <NUM> at a location adjacent to the sidewall <NUM>, whereby the side portion <NUM> can be retracted at least partially into the inner cavity <NUM> of the sidewall <NUM> when the front end part <NUM> is in the retracted position.

<FIG> illustrates the front end part <NUM> of the child seat <NUM> in the deployed position. In the deployed position, the transversal portion <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> can extend outside the opening <NUM> of the seat shell <NUM> and can be positioned in front of the seat portion <NUM>. Moreover, each side portion <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> can form a smooth profile extension relative to the sidewall <NUM> adjacent thereto that projects forward and downward from the opening <NUM>. For example, each side portion <NUM> can have a front surface <NUM> that inclines forward and downward and forms a generally smooth profile extension from the sidewall edge <NUM> of the sidewall <NUM> adjacent thereto. The front end part <NUM> can provide support for the feet or legs of a child in the deployed position.

<FIG> illustrates the front end part <NUM> of the child seat <NUM> in the retracted position. In the retracted position, the transversal portion <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> can be stowed and received at least partially inside the opening <NUM> of the seat shell <NUM>, and more particularly can be positioned in a hollow interior of the seat portion <NUM> below an upper surface 136A of the seat portion <NUM>. Moreover, the two side portions <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> can be respectively received at least partially inside the inner cavities <NUM> of the two sidewalls <NUM>, whereby the front surface <NUM> of each side portion <NUM> can form an angle with respect to the sidewall edge <NUM> of the sidewall <NUM> adjacent thereto.

In conjunction with <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating some inner construction details of the seat shell <NUM>. For the sake of clarity, <FIG> omits the representation of the front end part <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the child seat <NUM> can further include a latching mechanism <NUM> for locking the front end part <NUM> in the deployed position. The latching mechanism <NUM> can include two latches <NUM>, two springs <NUM>, a release actuator <NUM> and two cables <NUM>. The two latches <NUM> can be respectively connected with the coupling ends <NUM> of the two side portions <NUM>, and can move relative to the front end part <NUM> to engage with or disengage from the seat shell <NUM>. For example, each latch <NUM> can engage with a locking opening <NUM> provided in the seat shell <NUM> for locking the front end part <NUM> in the deployed position, wherein the locking opening <NUM> can be exemplarily placed inside the inner cavity <NUM> of the sidewall <NUM>. According to an example of construction, each latch <NUM> can be slidably connected with the coupling end <NUM> of the side portion <NUM> associated therewith, and can slide relative to the front end part <NUM> to engage with or disengage from the seat shell <NUM>. The two springs <NUM> can be respectively connected with the two latches <NUM>, and can respectively bias the two latches <NUM> to move for engaging with the seat shell <NUM>. The release actuator <NUM> can be assembled with the front end part <NUM>, and can be respectively connected with the two latches <NUM> via the two cables <NUM>. According to an example of construction, the release actuator <NUM> can be provided on the transversal portion <NUM> of the front end part <NUM>. The release actuator <NUM> is operable by a caregiver to urge the two latches <NUM> to move and disengage from the seat shell <NUM>, whereby the front end part <NUM> can be unlocked for adjustment between the deployed position and the retracted position.

According to an embodiment, the latching mechanism <NUM> can further be configured to lock the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position. For example, each latch <NUM> can engage with another locking opening <NUM> provided in the seat shell <NUM> for locking the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the locking opening <NUM> can be exemplarily provided on the sidewall edge <NUM>.

In conjunction with <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic view illustrating the child safety seat <NUM> with the seat shell <NUM> in the sideways facing position and the front end part <NUM> in the deployed position, and <FIG> is a schematic view illustrating the child safety seat <NUM> with the seat shell <NUM> in the sideways facing position and the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position. Referring to <FIG>, when the seat shell <NUM> is in the sideways facing position on the support base <NUM> and the front end part <NUM> in the deployed position, the front end part <NUM> can sideways protrude a distance L1 from the support base <NUM>. More specifically, an image projection of the front end part <NUM> on a bottom plane P of the support base <NUM> can protrude the distance L1 from an image projection B of the support base <NUM> on the bottom plane P.

Referring to <FIG>, when the seat shell <NUM> is in the sideways facing position on the support base <NUM> and the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position, the front end part <NUM> can sideways protrude a distance L2 from the support base <NUM>, wherein the distance L2 can be substantially smaller than the distance L1 because the transversal portion <NUM> of the front end part <NUM> can be generally positioned in the hollow interior of the seat portion <NUM>. According to an example of construction, the distance L2 can be equal to or smaller than about half the distance L1. According to another example of construction, an image projection of the front end part <NUM> on the bottom plane P of the support base <NUM> can be within the boundary of the image projection B of the support base <NUM> on the bottom plane P when the seat shell <NUM> is in the sideways facing position on the support base <NUM> and the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position. Accordingly, when the child safety seat <NUM> is used inside a vehicle, a caregiver can first adjust the front end part <NUM> to the retracted position, and then rotate the child seat <NUM> from the forward or rearward facing position to the sideways facing position for retrieving a child from the child seat <NUM> or placing a child on the child seat <NUM>. With the front end part <NUM> in the retracted position, collision between the child seat <NUM> (in particular the front end part <NUM> thereof) and a door of the vehicle can be prevented as the child seat <NUM> rotates to the sideways facing position.

Advantages of the structures described herein include the ability to provide a child safety seat that is adjustable to different orientations as needed and has a front end part retractable to prevent undesirable interference with a vehicle environment during the adjustment of the child safety seat. Accordingly, the child safety seat can be more flexible and convenient in use.

Claim 1:
A child seat (<NUM>) configured to be disposed on a support base (<NUM>), the child seat (<NUM>) comprising:
a seat shell (<NUM>) positionable on the support base (<NUM>) and having a front end (<NUM>), a seat portion (<NUM>) and two sidewalls (<NUM>), the front end (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>), the two sidewalls (<NUM>) respectively protruding at a left and a right side of the seat portion (<NUM>), an interior space for receiving a child being defined at least partially between the two sidewalls (<NUM>);
a retractable front end part (<NUM>), having a transversal portion (<NUM>) and two side portions (<NUM>) connected with the transversal portion (<NUM>), the transversal portion (<NUM>) extending along a width direction of the seat shell (<NUM>), and the two side portions (<NUM>) being respectively connected pivotally with the two sidewalls (<NUM>) of the seat shell (<NUM>) via two pivot shafts (<NUM>) spaced apart from each other along the width direction, whereby the front end part (<NUM>) is rotatable relative to the seat shell (<NUM>) between a retracted position and a deployed position, the transversal portion (<NUM>) of the front end part (<NUM>) being stowed and received at least partially inside the opening (<NUM>) of the seat shell (<NUM>) in the retracted position, and the transversal portion (<NUM>) of the front end part (<NUM>) extending outside the opening (<NUM>) of the seat shell (<NUM>) in the deployed position; and
a latching mechanism (<NUM>) for locking the front end part (<NUM>) in the deployed position.