Patent Document

PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/248,729, filed Oct. 30, 2015, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a child restraint, and particularly to a child restraint coupled to a vehicle passenger seat of a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a child restraint coupled to a vehicle passenger seat by a lap belt included in the vehicle passenger seat. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to the present disclosure, a juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is coupled to the seat bottom and arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the juvenile vehicle seat further includes a belt-guide clip coupled to the seat bottom and arranged to lie in a fixed position relative to the seat bottom. The belt-guide clip is configured to provide means for locating minimizing rotation of the juvenile vehicle seat about an axis of rotation when the juvenile vehicle seat is in a rear-facing position relative to a vehicle passenger seat underlying the juvenile vehicle seat in response to application of an external force to the vehicle passenger seat so that transfer of a resultant force to an occupant of the seat is minimized during and after application of the external force the juvenile vehicle seat. 
         [0005]    In illustrative embodiments, the belt-guide clip is coupled to the seat bottom and configured to receive a portion of a vehicle lap belt therein to anchor the seat bottom in an installed position. Placement of the belt-guide clip midway between a front and rear portions of the seat bottom functions to establish a modified axis of rotation of the seat bottom during rebound movement of the seat bottom toward a seat back of a vehicle passenger seat following exposure of the vehicle passenger seat to an external impact. 
         [0006]    Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a child restraint including a first embodiment of a belt-guide clip in accordance with the present disclosure showing the belt-guide clip coupled to a juvenile vehicle seat included in the child restraint and that a lap belt included in a vehicle passenger seat underlying the juvenile vehicle seat couples the juvenile vehicle seat to the vehicle passenger seat and the belt-guide clip engages with the lap belt to cause rotation of the juvenile vehicle seat about a modified axis of rotation to be minimized during a rear-facing rebound event that occurs as part of a front impact event to the vehicle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1  showing the belt-guide clip coupled to a first side of a seat bottom included in the juvenile vehicle seat, the lap belt included in the vehicle passenger seat arranged to extend upwardly through the belt-guide clip and through a portion of the seat bottom, and suggesting that engagement of the lap belt by the belt-guide clip alters the lap belt routing to cause the modified axis of rotation to be established during the impact event; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded assembly view of the belt-guide clip included in the child restraint of  FIG. 1  showing that the belt-guide clip includes first and second retainer tabs arranged to receive fasteners to couple the belt-guide clip to the seat bottom of the juvenile vehicle seat, first and second support rails extending between the first and second retainer tabs to form a guide slot therebetween, and a cantilevered belt-retainer arm extending from the first retainer tab toward the second retainer tab and suggesting that the belt-guide clip is configured to receive the lap belt between the belt-retainer arm and the first and second support rails to retain the lap belt relative to the juvenile vehicle seat so that the modified axis of rotation is established during the impact event; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view of the child restraint of  FIG. 1  showing that the child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom, and first and second belt-guide clips coupled to opposite sides of the seat bottom, a seat support underlying the juvenile vehicle seat, and a seat lock configured to vary a tilt angle of the juvenile vehicle seat relative to the seat support; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5 through 7  are a series of views showing movement of the child restraint in response to application of an external force from an impact event to the child restraint of  FIGS. 1 and 4  and suggesting that the belt-guide clips are configured to minimize rebounding movement of the child restraint; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the child restraint of  FIGS. 1 and 4  installed on a vehicle passenger seat in a rear-facing position in which a child seated in the child restraint faces a seat back of the vehicle passenger seat and suggesting that an external force applied to the vehicle passenger seat as a result of an impact event causes the child restraint to first pivot in a first direction (double phantom arrow) away from the seat back of the vehicle passenger seat; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing that the child restraint has rotated in the first direction away from the seat back of the vehicle passenger seat in response to an impact event and suggesting that the child restraint is about to rebound and rotate about the modified axis of rotation in a second direction (double phantom arrow) toward the seat back as suggested in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing that the child restraint has rotated in the second direction toward the seat back of the vehicle passenger seat during the rear-facing rebound portion of the impact event and showing that rotation is limited due to the belt-guide clip establishing the modified axis of rotation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a child restraint including a second embodiment of a belt-guide clip in accordance with the present disclosure showing the belt-guide clip coupled to the seat bottom of the juvenile vehicle seat and a lap belt included in the vehicle passenger seat arranged to extend through and be retained by the belt-guide clip to cause a modified axis of rotation to be established during an impact event so that a rotation during a rear-facing rebound portion of the impact event is minimized; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the child restraint of  FIG. 8  showing the belt-guide clip in an opened position in which the belt-guide clip is arranged to receive a portion of the lap belt therein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 8  showing the belt-guide clip in a closed position in which the belt-guide clip is coupled to the lap belt to retain the lap belt and establish the modified axis of rotation of the child restraint; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of the belt-guide clip of  FIG. 8  showing that the belt-guide clip includes a back clamp arranged to couple the belt-guide clip to the seat bottom of the juvenile seat and including teeth configured to engage a back side of the lap belt, a front clamp coupled to a first end of the back clamp to pivot relative to the back clamp and including teeth configured to engage a front side of the safety belt, and a latch coupled to a second end of the back clamp to pivot relative to the back claim and configured to engage the front clamp to block relative movement between the front and back clamps when the belt-guide clip is in the closed position so that the lap belt is remains engaged with the belt-guide clip; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a child restraint including a third embodiment of a belt-guide clip in accordance with the present disclosure showing the belt-guide clip coupled to the seat bottom of the juvenile vehicle seat and a lap belt included in the vehicle passenger seat arranged to extend through and be retained by the belt-guide clip to cause a modified axis of rotation to be established during an impact event so that a rotation during a rear-facing rebound portion of the impact event is minimized; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the child restraint of  FIG. 12  showing the belt-guide clip in an opened position in which the belt-guide clip is arranged to receive a portion of the lap belt therein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 12  showing the belt-guide clip in a closed position in which the belt-guide clip is coupled to the lap belt to retain the lap belt and establish the modified axis of rotation of the child restraint; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view of the belt-guide clip of  FIG. 12  showing that the belt-guide clip includes a back clamp arranged to couple the belt-guide clip to the seat bottom of the juvenile seat and configured to engage a back side of the safety belt, a front clamp coupled to a first end of the back clamp to pivot relative to the back clamp and including teeth configured to engage a front side of the safety belt, and a latch coupled to a second end of the back clamp to pivot relative to the back clamp and configured to engage the front clamp to block relative movement between the front and back clamps when the belt-guide clip is in the closed position so that the lap belt is remains engaged with the belt-guide clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    A child restraint  10  in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat  12  and belt-guide clip  14 A,  14 B as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . Belt-guide clip  114 A is coupled to juvenile seat  12  to engage a lap belt  16  and is configured provide means for establishing a modified axis of rotation  20  about which child restraint  10  rotates about toward a vehicle passenger seat  18  during a rebound portion of an impact event as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . A second embodiment of a belt-guide clip  114  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . A third embodiment of a belt-guide clip  214  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 12-15 . 
         [0025]    Child restraint  10  is support by vehicle passenger seat  18  in a rear-facing orientation as shown in  FIG. 1 . A child (not shown) restrained by child restraint  10  faces toward a seat back  18 A included in vehicle passenger seat  18  when child restraint  10  is in the rear-facing orientation. Lap belt  16  included in vehicle passenger seat  18  interconnects child restraint  10  to a seat bottom  18 B included in vehicle passenger seat  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . During an impact event (e.g., a front impact to the vehicle), child restraint  10  in the rear-facing orientation first moves away from seat back  18 A and shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and then rebounds and moves in a direction back toward seat back  18 B as shown in  FIG. 7 . Belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B of child restraint  10  cooperate with lap belt  16  to limit rebounding movement of child restraint  10  back toward seat back  18 B. 
         [0026]    Child restraint  10  includes juvenile seat  12  and first and second belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B as shown in  FIG. 4 . One belt-guide clip  14 A is coupled to a first side of a seat bottom  22  included in juvenile seat  12  and the other belt-guide clip  14 B is coupled to an opposite second side of seat bottom  22  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Lap belt  16  is routed upwardly from vehicle passenger seat  18 , through first belt-guide clip  14 A, through seat bottom  22 , through second belt-guide clip  14 B, and back to vehicle passenger seat  18 . While only lap belt  16  is shown, any other suitable passenger belt or belts may be used. 
         [0027]    During the impact event, an external force F 1  is applied to the vehicle and transferred to child restraint  10  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B engage lap belt  16  and cooperate with lap belt  16  to modify movement of child restraint  10  in response to application of external force F 1 . Movement is modified as a result of belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B engaging lap belt  16  to cause rotation of child restraint  10  about modified axis of rotation  20  to be minimized during a rear-facing rebound portion of the impact. 
         [0028]    Second belt-guide clip  14 B is substantially the same as first belt-guide clip  14 A and the description of first belt-guide clip  14 A applicable to second belt-guide clip  14 B. First belt-guide clip  14 A includes first and second retainer tabs  23 ,  24 , fasteners  25 ,  26 , first and second support rails  27 ,  28 , and a cantilevered belt-retainer arm  30  as shown in  FIG. 3 . First and second retainer tabs  23 ,  24  are arranged to receive associated fasteners  25 ,  26  therein to couple belt-guide clip  14 A to seat bottom  22  of juvenile vehicle seat  12 . First and second support rails  27 ,  28  are arranged to extend between first and second retainer tabs  23 ,  24  to form a guide slot  32  therebetween as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cantilevered belt-retainer arm  30  is arranged to extend from first retainer tab  23  toward second retainer tab  24 . Belt-guide clip  14 A is configured to receive lap belt  16  between belt-retainer arm  30  and first and second support rails  27 ,  28  to retain lap belt  16  relative to juvenile vehicle seat  12  so that modified axis of rotation  20  is established during the impact event. 
         [0029]    Juvenile seat  12  includes seat bottom  22 , a seat back  34 , a seat support  36 , and a seat lock  38  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Seat back  34  is arranged to extend upwardly from seat bottom  22 . First and second belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B are coupled to opposite sides of seat bottom  22 . Seat support  36  is arranged to underlie seat bottom  22 . Seat lock  38  is configured to vary a tilt angle of juvenile seat  12  relative to seat support  36 . 
         [0030]    Child restraint  10  moves as suggested in  FIGS. 5-7  in response to application of external force F 1  from an impact event. Belt-clip guides  14 A,  14 B are configured to minimize rebounding movement of the child restraint  10  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0031]    Child restraint  10  is installed on vehicle passenger seat  18  in the rear-facing position in which a child (not shown) seated in child restraint  10  faces toward seat back  18 B of vehicle passenger seat  18 . Application of external force F 1  to vehicle passenger seat  18  and child restraint  10  causes child restraint  10  to first pivot in a first direction  40  (double phantom arrow) away from seat back  18 B of vehicle passenger seat  18  as shown in  FIG. 5 . After child restraint  10  has rotated in first direction  40  away from seat back  18 B of vehicle passenger seat  18  in response to application of external force F 1 , child restraint  10  rebounds by rotating about modified axis of rotation  20  in a second direction  42  (double phantom arrow) toward seat back  18 B as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Rotation of child restraint  10  in second direction  42  is limited by belt-guide clips  14 A,  14 B establishing modified axis of rotation  20 . 
         [0032]    A child restraint  110  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure includes juvenile seat  12  and first and second belt-guide clips  114 A,  114 B as shown in  FIG. 8 . One belt-guide clip  114 A is coupled to a first side of a seat bottom  22  included in juvenile seat  12  and the other belt-guide clip  114 B is coupled to an opposite second side of seat bottom  22  as suggested in  FIG. 8 . Lap belt  16  is routed upwardly from vehicle passenger seat  18 , through first belt-guide clip  114 A, through seat bottom  22 , through second belt-guide clip  114 B, and back to vehicle passenger seat  18 . 
         [0033]    During the impact event, an external force F 1  is applied to the vehicle and transferred to child restraint  110 . Belt-guide clips  114 A,  114 B engage lap belt  16  and cooperate with lap belt  16  to modify movement of child restraint  110  in response to application of external force F 1 . Movement is modified as a result of belt-guide clips  114 A,  114 B engaging lap belt  16  to cause rotation of child restraint  110  about modified axis of rotation  20  to be minimized during a rear-facing rebound portion of the impact. 
         [0034]    Second belt-guide clip  114 B is substantially the same as first belt-guide clip  114 A and the description of first belt-guide clip  114 A is applicable to second belt-guide clip  114 B. First belt-guide clip  114 A includes a back clamp  124 , a front clamp  126 , and a latch  128  as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . Back clamp  124  is arranged to couple belt-guide clip  114 B to seat bottom  22  of juvenile seat  12  and includes teeth  124 T configured to engage a back side of lap belt  16 . Front clamp  126  is coupled to a first end of back clamp  124  to pivot relative to the back clamp  124  and includes teeth  126 T configured to engage a front side of the lap belt  16 . Latch  128  is coupled to a second end of back clamp  124  to pivot relative to back clamp  124  and configured to engage front clamp  126  to block relative movement between front and back clamps  124 ,  126  when belt-guide clip  114 A is in a closed position so that lap belt  16  remains engaged with belt-guide clip  114 A. 
         [0035]    Belt-guide clip  114 A is movable between an opened position as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11  and a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . Lap belt  16  may be installed in belt-guide clip  114 A between front and back clamps  124 ,  126  when belt-guide clip  114 A is in the opened position. When belt-guide clip  114 A is in the closed position, lap belt  16  remains engaged with belt-guide clip  114 A between front and back clamps  124 ,  126 . Belt-guide clip  114 A is configured to receive lap belt  16  between front and back clamps  124 ,  126  to retain lap belt  16  relative to juvenile vehicle seat  12  so that modified axis of rotation  20  is established during the impact event. 
         [0036]    A child restraint  210  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure includes juvenile seat  12  and first and second belt-guide clips  214 A,  214 B as shown in  FIG. 12 . One belt-guide clip  214 A is coupled to a first side of a seat bottom  22  included in juvenile seat  12  and the other belt-guide clip  214 B is coupled to an opposite second side of seat bottom  22  as suggested in  FIG. 12 . Lap belt  16  is routed upwardly from vehicle passenger seat  18 , through first belt-guide clip  214 A, through seat bottom  22 , through second belt-guide clip  214 B, and back to vehicle passenger seat  18 . 
         [0037]    During the impact event, an external force F 1  is applied to the vehicle and transferred to child restraint  210 . Belt-guide clips  214 A,  214 B engage lap belt  16  and cooperate with lap belt  16  to modify movement of child restraint  210  in response to application of external force F 1 . Movement is modified as a result of belt-guide clips  214 A,  214 B engaging lap belt  16  to cause rotation of child restraint  210  about modified axis of rotation  20  to be minimized during a rear-facing rebound portion of the impact. 
         [0038]    Second belt-guide clip  214 B is substantially the same as first belt-guide clip  214 A and the description of first belt-guide clip  214 A is applicable to second belt-guide clip  214 B. First belt-guide clip  214 A includes a back clamp  224 , a front clamp  226 , and a latch  228  as shown in  FIGS. 12-15 . Back clamp  224  is arranged to couple belt-guide clip  214 B to seat bottom  22  of juvenile seat  12 . Front clamp  226  is coupled to a first end of back clamp  224  to pivot relative to the back clamp  224  and includes teeth  226 T configured to engage a front side of the lap belt  16 . Latch  228  is coupled to a second end of back clamp  224  to pivot relative to back clamp  224  and configured to engage front clamp  226  to block relative movement between front and back clamps  224 ,  226  when belt-guide clip  214 A is in a closed position so that lap belt  16  remains engaged with belt-guide clip  214 A. 
         [0039]    Belt-guide clip  214 A is movable between an opened position as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 15  and a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . Lap belt  216  may be installed in belt-guide clip  214 A between front and back clamps  224 ,  226  when belt-guide clip  214 A is in the opened position. When belt-guide clip  214 A is in the closed position, lap belt  16  remains engaged with belt-guide clip  214 A between front and back clamps  224 ,  226 . Belt-guide clip  214 A is configured to receive lap belt  16  between front and back clamps  224 ,  226  to retain lap belt  16  relative to juvenile vehicle seat  12  so that modified axis of rotation  20  is established during the impact event.

Technology Category: b