Patent Description:
A child safety seat is a seat specially designed for children. By assembling the child safety seat in a car, the child can ride on the child safety seat, so that the child can be restrained by the child safety seat for protecting the safety of the child.

When common child safety seats are used as boosters, that is, when used as level <NUM> and level <NUM>, the commonly used connection method includes a latch and a car seat belt, and when used as level <NUM>+ and level <NUM>, other connection methods are used. In this way, as children grow up, the connection methods used are not uniform, and child caregivers need to learn how to use different connection devices, which causes inconvenience.

A tether of a traditional child safety seat is fixed on the seat. When the seat is set to be rotatable or replaceable, the tether needs to be disassembled and reconnected, and an extension path of the tether cannot be fixed, causing the tether to easily hinder riding of children or actions of operators, and occupying limited space in the car.

TOP TETHER is currently used as a fixing tool, after unlocking the TOP TETHER connector, the TOP TETHER belt will stay scatteredly outside the child safety seat, causing inconvenience to use and transport.

Related prior art document <CIT> relates to a dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfacing with a child seat in a vehicle and engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable members in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. This document does not disclose a tether telescopically connected to the base that can be automatically retracted when it is extended relative to the base. <CIT> discloses also an anchor device.

In addition, the existing child safety seat cannot indicate whether the TOP TETHER connector is fixed in place, so there are possibility of misoperation and potential safety hazards.

Thus, there is a need for a child safety seat with convenient operation and good safety.

An object of the present invention is to provide a child safety seat that can reduce or eliminate at least one of the above-mentioned defects.

For example, the present invention can solve the problem that the tether is scattered outside the child safety seat when the tether is not used.

In order to achieve the above object, in an aspect, the present invention provides a child safety seat, which includes a base, a rear portion of which is formed with a top rod protruding upwardly; a seat connected to the base; and a tether telescopically connected to the base, wherein the tether can be automatically retracted when it is extended relative to the base.

In an embodiment, the base includes a retractor assembly, and the retractor assembly includes: a retractor bracket fixed on the base; a retractor, both ends of which are pivotally fixed to the retractor bracket; and an elastic member connected to the retractor bracket and the retractor, and applying a torsion force to the retractor, wherein an end of the tether is fixed and wound on the retractor.

In an embodiment, the child safety seat further includes: a driving member movably provided on the retractor bracket; a restore member fixed to the base and applying a pressure to the driving member; and a switch provided on the retractor bracket, wherein the tether bypasses and contacts the driving member, and the driving member can actuate the switch.

In an embodiment, slots are respectively formed on both sides of the retractor bracket, both ends of the driving member are provided in the slots, and the tether is pulled to move the driving member in the slot, so that the driving member triggers the switch, and the restore member applies a restoring force to the driving member for returning to an unmoved state.

In an embodiment, an engaging member is formed on the retractor, an engaged member is provided on the retractor bracket, and the engaged member can be operated to engage and disengage with the engaging member.

In an embodiment, the top rod is formed in a U shape, a through hole is centrally formed in a top portion of the top rod, and the tether passes through the through hole.

In an embodiment, each of the slots is oriented in a vertical direction.

In an embodiment, when the switch is triggered, the child safety seat issues an alarm to inform that the tether is tightened.

In an embodiment, the base has an anchoring portion extending backward, the anchoring portion is an ISOFIX connector, and the tether is a TOP TETHER connector.

In an embodiment, the tether separates from the retractor at a position higher than the driving member, and the tether extends from the retractor and bypasses the driving member via a lower side of the driving member, and then extends upward out of the base.

Compared with the prior art, the child safety seat of the present disclosure is easy to operate and is not easy to mis-operate. The tether of the child safety seat can be automatically retracted, so that the child safety seat can be kept tidy when not in use.

By considering the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the various objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent. The drawings are only exemplary illustrations of the disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings, the same reference numerals always refer to the same or similar parts.

In order to further illustrate the principle and structure of the present disclosure, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments are only provided for illustration and explanation and cannot be used to limit the scope of patent protection of the present disclosure.

The terms used in the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The singular forms of "a", "said" and "the" used in the present disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates other meanings. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

<FIG> is a side view of a child safety seat of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view of the child safety seat of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a side view of the child safety seat of the present disclosure, in which a seat is different from that shown in <FIG>.

Child safety seats may be divided into level <NUM>+ (suitable for children of <NUM>-<NUM>), level <NUM> (suitable for children of <NUM>-<NUM>), level <NUM> (suitable for children of <NUM>-<NUM>), and level <NUM> (suitable for children of <NUM>-<NUM>) according to the applicable child weight. The child safety seat <NUM> of the present disclosure may be suitable for children from level <NUM>+ to level <NUM>. Child safety seats may also be classified in other ways, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

The child safety seat <NUM> of the present disclosure may include: a base <NUM>, a rear portion of which is formed with a top rod <NUM> protruding upwardly; a seat <NUM> connected to the base <NUM>; and a tether <NUM> telescopically connected to the base <NUM>, wherein the tether <NUM> can be automatically retracted when it is extended relative to the base <NUM>.

The tether <NUM> may be a TOP TETHER connector. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the child safety seat <NUM> of the present disclosure may have different forms of seats <NUM>. The seat <NUM> can be rotatably fixed on the base <NUM> so that the seat <NUM> can be used to face different directions. The seat <NUM> may be rotatably fixed relative to the base <NUM> according to one of the above classifications (for example, one of level <NUM>+, level <NUM>, level <NUM> and level <NUM>), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a base of the child safety seat of an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view of the base of the child safety seat of an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a decorative cover of a top rod on one side is hidden, <FIG> is a perspective view of the base of the child safety seat of an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a decorative cover of a top rod on the other side is hidden, <FIG> is a perspective view of the base of the child safety seat of an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which some components are removed to show an internal structure, <FIG> is a partial enlarged view of <FIG>, <FIG> is a side view of the base of the child safety seat of an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which some components are removed to show an internal structure, and <FIG> is a partial enlarged view of <FIG>.

In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, the base <NUM> may include a retractor assembly <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the retractor assembly <NUM> may be disposed on a frame of the base <NUM>. The retractor assembly <NUM> may include: a retractor bracket <NUM> arranged on the base <NUM>; a retractor <NUM>, both ends of which are pivotally arranged to the retractor bracket <NUM>; and an elastic member <NUM> connected to the retractor bracket <NUM> and retractor <NUM>, and applying a restoring force to the retractor <NUM>. The restoring force may be, for example, a force for twisting. One end of the tether <NUM> may be provided and wound on the retractor <NUM>, and the other end of the tether <NUM> may extend out of the base <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may be a torsion spring, and a torsion force applied by the elastic member <NUM> tends to rotate the retractor <NUM> in the direction of winding the tether <NUM>. When the tether <NUM> is unlocked from a seat of a vehicle, the tether <NUM> can be retracted by the retractor <NUM> so as to prevent the tether <NUM> from being scattered on the outside of the child safety seat <NUM>. Optionally, the elastic member <NUM> may be replaced with a motor, which may retract the tether <NUM> in response to the tether <NUM> being unlocked from the seat of the vehicle. The elastic member <NUM> may be another energy storage device, which may be provided in the retractor assembly <NUM> to exert a force to retract the tether <NUM> into the child safety seat <NUM>.

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, the child safety seat <NUM> may also have an alarm device. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the alarm device may include: a driving member <NUM>, which is movably disposed on the retractor bracket <NUM>; a restore member <NUM>, which is disposed on the base <NUM> and may apply a pressure to the driving member <NUM>; and a switch <NUM>, which is provided on the retractor bracket <NUM>. The tether <NUM> may bypass and contact the driving member. The driving member <NUM> may actuate the switch <NUM>. The restore member <NUM> may be a torsion spring, a spring, a gravitational potential energy storage device, and so on. For example, when the restore member <NUM> is a torsion spring, it may be sleeved on a rod, and one end of the restore member <NUM> may abut against the base <NUM> or the retractor bracket <NUM>, and the other end of the restore member <NUM> may abut against the driving member <NUM>, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The driving member <NUM> may be an elongated rod. When the restore member <NUM> is a spring, one end of the restore member <NUM> may abut against one side (for example, an upper side) of the driving member <NUM>.

In the second embodiment, the switch <NUM> may have a mechanical button. As shown in <FIG>, the mechanical button of the switch <NUM> protrudes from a lower part of a left side in the form of an arm. When the driving member <NUM> is actuated, its moving path meets the mechanical button of the switch <NUM>, thereby triggering the switch <NUM> and then generating a signal to turn on or turn off the switch. Optionally, the switch <NUM> may have a sensing element. When the driving member <NUM> is actuated, it moves through a sensing area of the sensing element of the switch <NUM>, thereby triggering the switch <NUM>, and then generating a signal to turn on or turn off the switch. Of course, the switch <NUM> may also have other forms that may be triggered by the driving member <NUM>, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Since the driving member <NUM> is a long rod in this embodiment, a position where the tether <NUM> contacts the driving member <NUM>, a position where the restore member <NUM> contacts the driving member <NUM>, and a position where the switch <NUM> contacts the driving member <NUM> may be different positions located in an axial direction of the long rod, respectively, such that the tether <NUM>, the restore member <NUM> and the switch <NUM> do not interfere with each other.

Slots <NUM> may be formed on both sides of the retractor bracket <NUM>, respectively. Each of the slots <NUM> may be formed in an elongated shape. A long side of each of the slots <NUM> may extend in a substantially vertical direction, or may extend obliquely. Both ends of the driving member <NUM> may be arranged in the slots <NUM>, and the tether <NUM> may be pulled to move the driving member <NUM> in the slots <NUM>, so that the driving member <NUM> triggers the switch <NUM>, and the restore member <NUM> may apply a restoring force to the driving member <NUM> for returning to an unmoved state. The slot <NUM> may have a first end and a second end. Specifically, referring to <FIG>, when an end of the tether <NUM> protruding out of the base <NUM> is pulled, the tether <NUM> applies a thrust to the driving member <NUM>, so that the driving member <NUM> moves in the slots <NUM> toward the first end of the slots <NUM>, presses the restore member <NUM> and triggers the switch <NUM>. Afterwards, when the tension on the tether <NUM> is removed, the restore member <NUM> pushes the driving member <NUM> in the slots <NUM> to move to a second end of the slots <NUM> in an opposite direction, and the driving member <NUM> returns to a lower end of the slots <NUM>.

The base <NUM> may have an anchor portion <NUM> protruding backward. The anchor portion <NUM> may be an ISOFIX connector, and the tether <NUM> may be a TOP TETHER connector.

When the switch <NUM> is triggered, the alarm device of the child safety seat <NUM> may issue an alarm to inform that the tether <NUM> is tightened. Specifically, the alarm may be in the form of sound and/or light. The alarm may alert an operator of the child safety seat <NUM> that the tether <NUM> has been locked to the seat of the vehicle. At this time, the operator may further lock the anchor portion <NUM> to the seat of the vehicle, thereby eliminating the above-mentioned alarm. In this way, it can be ensured that the child safety seat <NUM> is correctly installed and is not only partially installed.

Optionally, a plurality of switches <NUM> may be respectively arranged to be respectively associated with the tether <NUM> and the anchor portion <NUM>. The alarm device may have a logic judgment device. When only a part of the plurality of switches <NUM> are triggered, the alarm device may issue an alarm to indicate the operator that the child safety seat <NUM> is not installed well. When all of the switches <NUM> are triggered, the alarm device may stop issuing the alarm.

The retractor <NUM> may be formed with an engaging member <NUM>. The retractor bracket <NUM> may also be provided with an engaged member <NUM>. The engaged member <NUM> may be operated to be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging member <NUM>. For example, the engaged member <NUM> may be manipulated from the outside of the child safety seat <NUM> so that a portion of the tether <NUM> protruding out of the base may be locked at a certain length. The engaging member <NUM> may be, for example, a ratchet wheel, and the engaged member <NUM> may be, for example, a pawl.

In a third embodiment, the child safety seat <NUM> may be set to have use modes of level <NUM>+, level <NUM>, level <NUM> and level <NUM> respectively. For example, when the child safety seat <NUM> is used for the level <NUM>+ and level <NUM>, the seat <NUM> may be used to face a rear of the base <NUM> (that is, when the child rides on the child safety seat <NUM>, he/she faces the rear of the vehicle); when the child safety seat <NUM> is used for level <NUM> and level <NUM>, the seat <NUM> may be used to face a front of the base <NUM> (that is, when the child rides on the child safety seat <NUM>, he/she faces the front of the vehicle).

In the third embodiment, the tether <NUM> is telescopically arranged in the base <NUM> and extends out of an opening of the base <NUM>, passes the top rod <NUM>, and is finally connected to a corresponding anchoring device on the seat of the vehicle. The seat <NUM> is fixedly connected to the base <NUM>. In this way, although the tether <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM>, since the seat <NUM> is fixedly connected to the base <NUM>, the tether <NUM> can still restrain the seat <NUM> and ensure that the seat <NUM> is fixed in place. Since the tether <NUM> passes the top rod <NUM> and extends rearward, an action point of a pulling force exerted by the tether <NUM> connected to the seat of the vehicle on the child safety seat <NUM> is located on the top rod <NUM>. Two anchor portions <NUM> protruding rearward from both sides of the base <NUM> are connected to corresponding anchoring devices on the seat. In this way, the action point of the pulling force of the tether <NUM> and the action points of the two anchor portions <NUM> on the base <NUM> form a triangle, thereby fixing the child safety seat <NUM> and preventing it from turning over.

In the third embodiment, since the tether <NUM> does not need to be connected to the seat <NUM>, after the child safety seat <NUM> is installed on the vehicle seat, no matter whether it is in any mode of level <NUM>+, level <NUM>, level <NUM> and level <NUM>, a same connection method may be used, no disassembly or conversion steps are required, so it is easy to use.

The features contained in the first, second and third embodiments of the present disclosure may all be applied to the child safety seat <NUM> alone, or used together in any combination in the child safety seat <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the top rod <NUM> may be formed in a U shape, and the U shape is formed upside down on the base <NUM>. The tether <NUM> extending out of the base <NUM> may pass through or bypass the top rod <NUM> to further extend. The tether <NUM> may be slidably fixed on the top rod <NUM> to restrict its further extension path. For example, the tether <NUM> may pass through a through hole <NUM> formed on the top rod <NUM>. Optionally, the through hole <NUM> may be formed offset.

Optionally, the top rod <NUM> may be covered with a top rod decorative cover, and the tether <NUM> may pass between the top rod <NUM> and the top rod decorative cover to be constrained. As shown in <FIG>, where <FIG> is a view after removing the top rod decorative cover in <FIG>, the top rod <NUM> may not have a through hole <NUM>. The part of the tether <NUM> protruding out of the base <NUM> extends between the top of the inverted U-shaped top rod <NUM> and the seat <NUM>, and passes over the top rod <NUM>, and then engages with the seat of the vehicle. Since the top rod decorative cover restricts the tether <NUM> to prevent it from sliding left and right, the extension path of the tether <NUM> passing over the top rod <NUM> is relatively fixed.

When the switch is triggered, the child safety seat issues an alarm to inform that the tether is tightened.

The tether <NUM> separates from the retractor <NUM> at a position higher than the driving member <NUM>. The tether <NUM> extends from the retractor <NUM>, bypasses the driving member <NUM> via a lower side of the driving member <NUM>, and then extends upwards and out of the base <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the tether <NUM> wound on the retractor <NUM> first extends to the lower right, bypasses the driving member <NUM>, and then extends to the upper or upper right, so as to ensure that the driving member <NUM> is actuated upward when the tether <NUM> is tightened.

Claim 1:
A child safety seat (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>), a rear portion of which is formed with a top rod (<NUM>) protruding upwardly;
a seat (<NUM>) connected to the base (<NUM>); and
a tether (<NUM>) telescopically connected to the base (<NUM>),
wherein the tether (<NUM>) can be automatically retracted when it is extended relative to the base (<NUM>).