Patent ID: 12257928

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of 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, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring now toFIGS.1through6, the present invention may include a seat harness system100with single-action release functionality. The seat harness system100may define a multi-point harness system when operatively associated with a seat10; in some embodiments resulting in a five-point car seat harness system. It should be understood that even though the FIGS and much of the specification is directed toward car seats, the seat harness system100may be adapted to be associated with stroller seats, highchairs, a baby-carrier (e.g., Babybjorn™), as well as seats for adults, such as vehicular driving seats, passenger seats, cockpit seats and the like.

In any event, the seat10may have a back-support portion and a seat portion to accommodate the weight of a user of the seat10. The seat portion may provide a locking mechanism receiver48adapted to move between a locked and an unlocked engagement for a complimentary locking mechanism. (Though in certain embodiments, the locking mechanism receiver48may be located not on the seat portion). Also, the back-support portion may provide an actuator accommodator50to connect an actuator60to the seat10. In certain embodiments, the actuator accommodator50may be a recessed pocket for housing the actuator60therein.

The seat harness system100operatively associates a harness plate36, harness strapping32, a harness positioning system70, and the actuator60in a singular innovation.

The harness plate36and the harness strapping32may be made from any durable, rigid or semi-rigid material capable of bending without fracture under the stresses and stains contemplated herein, such as various synthetic materials, hard rubber, various plasticized material, metallic materials and the like. In some embodiments, the harness strapping32may be flexible much like a standard seatbelt strap.

The harness plate36may have a body portion having an upper portion, side portions, and a bottom portion. It being understood that directional terms such as upper, lower, side, and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiment ofFIG.1showing the present invention in a closed position where the upper (upward or top) direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward (lower or bottom) direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.

The upper portion of the harness plate36may provide a plate pivot point38, which could be a hinge or other pivotable connectors. The bottom portion may provide locking arm42ending in a locking mechanism46. In certain embodiments, side arms40extend from the side portion of the harness plate36so that when in the closed position, a five-point harness system is established and defined by the locking arm42, the two side arms40, and the harness strapping32. The harness plate36may provide an actuating component44enabled to send a control signal to the actuator60and an input to the locking mechanism receiver48, moving the latter between the locked and unlocked engagements. The actuating component44may be a press and twist lock dial or equivalent.

The harness positioning system70may include a fulcrum point26operatively associated with a lever arm24, wherein the fulcrum point26engages the lever arm24between an actuating end of the lever arm24and a strapping end of the lever arm24. The lever arm24may have a biplanar shape, wherein the lever arm24lies in two planes, as illustrated inFIG.5. The fulcrum point26may associated with the lever arm between the two (first and second) planes, along an inclined, interconnecting plane therebetween, to effectuate the operability of the functionality disclosed herein. The fulcrum point26may include, in certain embodiments, a pin opening in an upper portion of the back support portion of the seat10, wherein the fulcrum point26operatively associates with a fulcrum pin28engaging the lever arm24.

The strapping end of the lever arm24may provide one or more strapping pivot points that are pivotably connected to one or more pivotable connections34of the upper portion of the harness strapping32so that the harness strapping32is movable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, as illustrated inFIG.6. It being understood that the “pivotable connections34” could be on the strapping end of the lever arm24and in fact be the strapping pivot points, even though the Figures show the pivotable connections34on the harness strapping32.

The actuating end of the lever arm24may provide an actuator connection point22engaging the actuator60. The actuator60being adapted in such a way that when it receives the control signal from the actuating component44, the actuator60responds by converting a source energy into mechanical energy moving the actuation connection point22between a closed condition to an open condition, as illustrated inFIG.6. The source energy may be pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, an elastic object that stores the mechanical energy, spring-loading, ball-bearings, an articulating hinge, or the like. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the actuator60is a hydraulic pump utilizing hydraulic pressure through a hydraulic piston body12, a hydraulic piston shaft14, a hydraulic piston body pin opening16, a hydraulic piston shaft pin opening18, a hydraulic piston body pin18, and a shaft pin and a shaft receive30as part of the actuation connection point22. In the embodiment of the hydraulic actuator60, when a user moves the harness plate36to the closed position a hydraulic pump associated with the hydraulic actuator60is primed with such source energy. The control signal could be pneumatic or hydraulic pressure or the like.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The seat harness system100disclosed above may be provided. In one embodiment, the seat10is a car seat secured to a seat of a car. In the car seats “open position” (FIG.2) the single-piece five-point chest plate harness is suspended over where a seated child would be, reminiscent of an awning. Though, it should be understood that the seat harness system100can be made to open downwardly or laterally (to the right or left) as opposed to the instant over-the-head design.

A caretaker may place a child in the car seat and lower the harness, and in so doing lowers the strapping end of the harness positioning system70/lever24that is connected to the harness strapping32via the pivot connection point34, which in turn raises the opposing actuator end of the harness positioning system70/lever arm24—supplying the actuator60with the source of energy in the form of, in the illustrated embodiment, hydraulic pressure, “priming” the actuator60.

The caretaker may secure the harness plate36into the locking receiver48until it moves to the locked condition, in certain embodiments producing a “click” from the actuating component44, thereby indicating the harness plate36is securely locked. When removing the child from the car seat, the caretaker may simply engage the actuating component44(in certain embodiments by pressing then twisting the lock release button/dial) which triggers the actuator60by way of the above-mentioned control signal, moving the harness strapping32out and over the child's head, back to its open position. Note, the harness strapping32may be pivoted about the one or more pivotable connection points34to further “open” the open position. Likewise, the harness plate36may be pivoted about the plate pivot point38to further “open” the open position.

As a result, the present invention solves the problem of fishing for belts and latching multiple buckles that bedevils users of current five-point harnesses. It also eliminates the risk of loose or twisted straps, thereby making it not only more efficient, time-saving and convenient, but also making it safer than the ubiquitous five-point strap harnesses used today.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.