Patent Description:
Child safety seat assemblies, or child safety seats, are secured inside a vehicle to protect children in vehicles from the effects of accidents, sudden deceleration, or other impacts or jarring events. A typical child safety seat assembly may include various protective features relating to securing the child safety seats in the vehicle, securing the child to the child safety seat, and protecting the child once the child is secured in the child safety seat.

Child safety seats are typically placed on a standard car seat and secured in position either with dedicated devices including ISOFIX connectors, foot props, top tethers or with the vehicle's seat belt for that seat. Often a combination of the afore-mentioned devices is used to secure the safety seat to the vehicle.

With some child safety seats, the vehicle seat belt is drawn around the safety seat and across the body of the child occupant so as to secure the child to the safety seat. Seat belt guides are known to be formed in the backrest assembly of some of these safety seats. Such backrest assemblies typically include headrest assemblies, and with such arrangements, the seatbelt guides are typically provided as a part of the headrest assembly.

It is important that, once the seat belt has been deployed correctly through the belt guide, the seat belt remains within the belt guide at all times while the safety seat is occupied.

It is desirable that the process to securely deploying the seat belt though the belt guide is easy for the adult who is assisting the child into the safety seat. It is also desirable that the process of removing the seat belt from the belt guide so as to remove the safety seat from the vehicle is not too difficult.

It is against this background that the present disclosure has been developed.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for preventing a child safety strap from sliding off. The apparatus comprises a safety belt guiding element and an anti-slip assembly.

According to the invention, there is provided a child seat having: a seat assembly, a back assembly connected to the seat assembly, and a seat belt guide assembly attached to the back assembly, the guide assembly including:
an openable ring having a closed condition defining an aperture and an open condition, the ring including:.

In one form, the connector is biased into engagement with the receiver.

In one form, the back assembly includes:.

In one form, the receiver support portion includes a belt lead.

In one form, the belt lead includes a lead face, the lead face angled so as to lead a belt edge of the seat belt towards the aperture when the ring is in the closed condition.

In one form, in use, the gate portion is openable by seat belt tension delivered by a user, a belt face of the seat belt engaging with an outer surface of outer arm of the gate portion and the belt edge guided by the lead face, such that the flexible gate portion bends sufficiently to allow entry of the seat belt into the aperture.

In one form, in the closed condition, the lead face and the outer surface of the outer arm meet to define an acute angle.

In one form, the connector is hand-moveable through an arc from the closed condition to the open condition.

According to the invention, in the open condition, the connector is displaced inwardly with respect to the receiver, the inward displacement providing an opening into the ring.

In one form, the gate portion and connector are arranged and constructed such that movement of the connector in a direction perpendicular to the arc is resisted.

In one form, the gate portion includes an outer arm and an inner arm, the inner arm disposed radially inwards from the outer arm and having an inner surface for guiding a seat belt.

In one form, a plurality of ribs are disposed between the inner arm and the outer arm, the ribs having a fixed end and free end, the fixed end fixed with respect to one or other of the inner arm and the outer arm,
whereby the ribs limit the relative displacement of the inner arm towards the outer arm.

In one form, one or more of the plurality of ribs limit the relative displacement of the inner arm towards the outer arm during an accident, thereby reducing any tendency for movement to the open condition.

In one form, the latch includes a tongue and a mouth, one of the tongue and the mouth located on the receiver and the other of the tongue and the mouth located on the connector,.

In one form, the latch includes a web connected to the tongue.

Examples illustrating the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, a child seat <NUM> having a seat assembly <NUM>, a back assembly <NUM> connected to the seat assembly, and a seat belt guide assembly <NUM> attached to the back assembly is shown.

The back assembly <NUM> of <FIG> includes a back-support portion <NUM> and a headrest assembly <NUM>. The headrest assembly is moveable with respect to the back-support portion and the seat belt guide assembly <NUM> is attached to the headrest assembly <NUM>. It can also be seen in <FIG> that the headrest assembly <NUM> includes a headrest support leg <NUM>. In some examples, child seat <NUM> is arranged and constructed to allow telescopic height adjustment of the head rest assembly <NUM> with the headrest support leg <NUM> telescopically extending down into a support slide within the back-support portion <NUM>.

In alternative examples, a child seat <NUM> may have a back assembly that includes a non-adjustable headrest assembly that is integral with a back-support portion, the headrest assembly including a seat belt guide assembly <NUM>. An example of this is shown in <FIG>, described further below.

The guide assembly <NUM> includes an openable ring defining an aperture <NUM> and having a closed condition and an open condition. The closed condition is shown in <FIG>. The open condition is shown in <FIG>.

The ring includes a flexible gate portion <NUM> terminating at a connector <NUM> and a receiver support portion <NUM> terminating at a receiver <NUM> for receiving the connector <NUM>. The connector <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> are separable through elastic bending of the gate portion <NUM> to open the ring sufficiently to allow installation of a vehicle seat belt there through as is most clearly illustrated in <FIG>. The connector <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> are mutually shaped to form a latch. The latch releasably holds the gate portion <NUM> and the receiver support portion <NUM> together.

The connector <NUM> is biased into engagement with the receiver <NUM>.

Again referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, it can be seen that the connector <NUM> is hand movable through an arc from the closed condition shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to the open condition shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In the open condition, shown in <FIG>, the connector <NUM> is displaced inwardly with respect to the receiver <NUM>, the inward displacement providing an opening <NUM> into the ring. This opening <NUM> allows the user to insert the vehicle's seatbelt <NUM> into the ring of the guide assembly <NUM> such that the seatbelt <NUM> is constrained as is shown in <FIG>.

A belt lead <NUM> is provided on the end of the receiver <NUM>. This belt lead <NUM> assists in guiding the belt <NUM> into the opening <NUM> through the latch when in the position illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, it can be seen that the latch includes a tongue <NUM>. The tongue <NUM>, which in the example illustrated forms part of the receiver <NUM>, is arranged and constructed to be received by a mouth <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A web <NUM> is also provided, the web <NUM> connected to the tongue <NUM>. A slot <NUM>, also shown in <FIG>, is provided in the connector <NUM> to accommodate the web <NUM>. In the closed condition, the tongue and the mouth are engaged, and, in the open condition, the tongue and the mouth are disengaged.

Referring to <FIG>, a child seat <NUM> according to a second example is shown. With this example, the gate portion <NUM> and connector <NUM> are arranged and constructed as is shown most clearly in <FIG> such that movement of the connector <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the arc is resisted. In other words, while the gate portion <NUM> facilitates movement through an arc to open the ring for insertion or removal of seat belt <NUM>, lateral movement which could misalign the latch is resisted.

The gate portion <NUM> includes an outer arm <NUM> and an inner arm <NUM>. The inner arm <NUM> is disposed radially inwards from the outer arm <NUM> and has an inner surface <NUM> for guiding a seat belt <NUM>, such as the seat belt <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Referring again to <FIG>, it can be seen that the seat belt guide assembly <NUM> has a plurality of ribs disposed between the inner arm <NUM> and the outer arm <NUM>. The ribs have a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is fixed with respect to one or other of the inner arm <NUM> and the outer arm <NUM>. The ribs limit the relative displacement of the outer arm <NUM> towards the inner arm <NUM>. This can be seen in the example of <FIG>. With this example, ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> have a fixed end connected to the outer arm <NUM> and a free end adjacent to the inner arm <NUM>. The ribs, or at least some of the ribs, limit the relative displacement of the outer arm <NUM> towards the inner arm <NUM> as is explained in further detail with reference to <FIG>.

The ribs are arranged and constructed to improve the stiffness against lateral bending of the gate portion <NUM> or bending in a direction perpendicular to the arc mentioned above. At the same time, the ribs do not significantly increase the resistance against bending along the arc within a desired operational range.

The size and position of the ribs can be varied to suit the particular application. For instance, a third example is shown in <FIG>. With this example, in addition to ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending inwards from the outer arm <NUM>, ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extend outwardly from inner arm <NUM>. The gate portion <NUM> includes a stiffener <NUM> on the outer arm <NUM> which may be provided in some examples.

In some examples the gate portion <NUM> may include an outer arm <NUM> and an inner arm <NUM> without any ribs or stiffeners.

Referring to <FIG>, a seat belt guide assembly component of a child seat according to a third example, engaged by a seat belt <NUM>, is shown. In this position, a user, such as a parent or other child carer, may pull on the seat belt <NUM> so as to tension it against an outer surface <NUM> of the outer arm <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>. With sufficient tension applied to the seat belt <NUM> at an appropriate angle, the seat belt <NUM> itself can be used to displace the gate portion <NUM> inwards sufficiently to move the seat belt <NUM> into the aperture <NUM> within the ring <NUM> of the seat belt guide <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> together, it can be seen that the belt lead <NUM> includes a lead face <NUM>, the lead face angled so as to lead a belt edge <NUM> of the seat belt towards the aperture <NUM> when the ring is in the closed condition. Thus, the gate portion <NUM> is openable by seat belt tension delivered by a user, such as a parent. A belt face <NUM> of the seat belt engages with an outer surface <NUM> of outer arm <NUM> of the gate portion <NUM> and the belt edge is guided by the lead face <NUM> such that the flexible gate portion <NUM> bends sufficiently to allow entry of the seat belt <NUM> into the aperture <NUM>.

Again referring to <FIG>, it can be seen that, in the closed condition, the lead face <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM> of the outer arm <NUM> meet to define an acute angle "A". The effect of the acute angle "A" is that the belt <NUM> is less likely to ride over the belt lead <NUM> and is inclined to be captured such that its edge <NUM> slides along the lead face <NUM> promoting opening of the flexible gate portion and/or promoting entry of the seat belt <NUM> into the aperture <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of a seat belt guide assembly component <NUM>, illustrating a potential failure deflection. With the seat belt guide assembly component <NUM> shown in this figure, at least some of the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that extend inwards from the outer arm <NUM> towards the inner arm <NUM> are too short to be engaged against the inner arm <NUM> at an optimum deflection of the inner arm. The result of this is that, during an accident, sudden deceleration, or other impact or jarring event, it is possible that the ring could be opened to the position shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view of a seat belt guide assembly component of a child seat according to a fourth example. With this example, the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are longer so that they engage the inner arm <NUM> as illustrated. This prevents the gate portion <NUM> and its connector <NUM> opening to form an opening that could allow a seatbelt to escape from the inside ring, in the event of an accident, sudden deceleration, or other impact or jarring event.

One manufacturing method used to produce the seat belt guide assembly <NUM> is plastic injection moulding. While various plastic injection moulding methods may be employed, sandwich injection moulding may be particularly suitable for some examples. Other suitable methods may be used.

<FIG> shows a fifth example of a child seat in a perspective view. This example uses the seatbelt guide <NUM> of the fourth example shown in <FIG>, but the seatbelt guide <NUM> in a different orientation relative to the headrest assembly.

<FIG> are similar perspective views of a child seat shown in <FIG>, showing sixth, seventh and eighth examples of a seat belt guide assembly component of the child seat mounted to provide three (<NUM>) alternative orientations to that shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> are perspective views showing a seat belt guide assembly component of the child seat of <FIG> according to a ninth example in closed and opened conditions respectively. This example is similar to the example shown in <FIG> for instance, however differs in that the tongue <NUM> is located on the flexible gate portion <NUM>.

<FIG> are perspective views showing a seat belt guide assembly component of the child seat of <FIG> according to a tenth example in closed and opened conditions respectively. This example is similar to the example shown in <FIG>, however differs in that the flexible gate portion <NUM> is configured to move laterally rather than inwardly to open the ring.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a child seat according to an eleventh example.

Referring now to <FIG>, a child seat <NUM> according to a twelfth example is shown in a perspective view. The child seat <NUM> has a back assembly <NUM> that includes a non-adjustable headrest assembly <NUM> that is integral with a back-support portion <NUM>. The headrest assembly <NUM> includes a seat belt guide assembly <NUM> mounted in an optimal position for a child falling within a range of heights. This arrangement lacks adjustability and therefore will only be optimal for children having a particular range of back lengths, for example, the child shown in dotted outline in <FIG>.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claim 1:
A child seat (<NUM>) having:
a seat assembly (<NUM>),
a back assembly (<NUM>) connected to the seat assembly (<NUM>), and
a seat belt guide assembly (<NUM>) attached to the back assembly (<NUM>),
the seat belt guide assembly (<NUM>) including:
an openable ring (<NUM>) having a closed condition defining an aperture (<NUM>) and an open condition, the ring (<NUM>) including:
a flexible gate portion (<NUM>) terminating at a connector (<NUM>); and
a receiver support portion (<NUM>) terminating at a receiver (<NUM>) for receiving the connector (<NUM>),
characterized in that the connector (<NUM>) and the receiver (<NUM>) are separable through elastic bending of the gate portion (<NUM>) to open the ring (<NUM>) sufficiently to allow installation of a vehicle seat belt (<NUM>) there-through,
wherein the connector (<NUM>) and the receiver (<NUM>) are mutually shaped to form a latch, the latch releasably holding the gate portion (<NUM>) and the receiver support portion (<NUM>) together, wherein in the open condition, the connector (<NUM>) is configured to be displaced inwardly with respect to the receiver (<NUM>), the inward displacement providing an opening (<NUM>) into the ring (<NUM>).