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`US 20060091?09Al
`
`(19) United States
`
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2006/0091709 A1
`(43) Pub. Date: May 4, 2006
`
`Emmert
`
`HALF FOLD BELT TENSIONER
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A child safety seat comprises a base member 10 mounted on
`a vehicle seat 12 and secured in place in a conventional
`manner by the lap and shoulder portions 14 and 16 of the
`strap of the vehicle’s adult seat belt. A child support in the
`child seat comprises a child support squab 18., which is
`attached to the base member 10, and a child support back 20,
`which is pivotally connected to the squab 18 about by a pivot
`axis 22.
`
`The base member 10 has two L—shaped side members 26 and
`28.1iach side member 26., 28 has a lap belt guide 34., 36 and
`clampable shoulder belt guide 38, 40 between the pivot rod
`32 and the upper bar 30. The side members 26 and 28 are
`interconnected both by an upper bar 30 and by a pivot rod
`32.
`
`A belt deflector 46 projects radially from its pivot rod 32 in
`a position just above the path of the lap strap 14 between the
`lap belt guides 34 and 36. A projection 48 extends rear-
`wardly from the back of the child support back 20 to a
`position just above and in front of the belt deflector 46.
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Erik Emmert, Ulm (DE)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`ADAMS EVANS RA.
`2180 TWO WACIIOVIA CENTER
`
`CHARLOTTE, NC 28282 (US)
`
`(21)
`
`App]. No.:
`
`101981.059
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Int. (11.
`A4761
`
`1/08
`
`(2006.01)
`
`U.S. (Il.
`
`........................................................ 297256.16
`
`
`
`Page 1 0f 10
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`BRITAX EXHIBIT 2002
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 1 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 1
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 2 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 2
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 3 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 3
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 4
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 5 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 5
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 6 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 A1
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`FIG. 6
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`Patent Application Publication May 4, 2006 Sheet 7 0f 7
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`US 200610091709 Al
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`FIG. 7
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`Page 8 0f 10
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`US 2006;“009ITO9 Al
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`May 4, 2006
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`IIAI.F FOLD BEL-'1‘ 'I‘ICNSIONICR
`
`'I‘I‘IITI INIITAI. l-‘IIiID AND BACKGROUND 0]"
`
`THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to a child safety seat
`for use in a vehicle. particularly though not exclusively a
`passenger vehicle.
`
`[0002] As used herein, the term “squab” means the pan of
`the seat which reacts to the user’s weight.
`
`[0003] The child safety seat with which the invention is
`concerned is of the type adapted to be secured to a vehicle’s
`adult seat by its adult seat belt and comprises a child support
`as such. having a child support squab. a child support back,
`an actuating formation and strap deflecting means: a gener—
`ally l, shaped base adapted to rest on the vehicle seat and
`having a squab ponion for resting on a squab ofthe adult
`seat with the support squab above it. a back portion for
`abutting against the back of the adult seat with the child
`support back in front of it and guide means defining a strap
`path for the adult seat belt; the arrangement being such that
`movement in a tightening direction ofthe actuating fonna-
`tion relative to the base causes movement of the strap
`deflecting means between a first position clear of the strap
`path and a second position in which a strap following the
`strap path is deflected therefrom,
`thereby tightening the
`strap.
`
`[0004] Our prior European patent No. 0822115 disclosed
`a seat ofthis type in which the actuating formation is integral
`with the seat assembly. Angular movement of the child
`support requires a relatively high force due to the friction
`between the strap and the strap deflecting means. In order to
`reduce this force. our European patent No. 1077152 dis—
`closed a child safety seat of this type in which the strap
`deflecting means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the
`base for angular movement about a transverse pivot axis,
`and the child support is coupled to the lever so that angular
`movement of the child support towards a normal use posi—
`tion causes angular movement of the lever to deflect the
`strap from the strap path.
`
`SUMMARY 01" THE INVI‘IN'I‘ION
`
`[0005] Both of the above child safety seats require the
`entire child suppor1 to move relative to the base.
`
`It is an object of the present invention to reduce the
`[0006]
`size, and therefore the weight. of the part of the child safety
`seat that has to be move in order to tighten the adult seat belt
`strap.
`
`[0007] According to the invention, in a child safety seat of
`the type defined above, wherein a fixed one of the child
`support squab and the child support back is fixedly attached
`to the base member.
`the other. pivotal one is pivotally
`attached to the base member or to the fixed one, the actuating
`formation is integral with the pivotal one and means is
`provided for latching the pivotal one in its use position with
`the strap tensioned.
`
`[0008] Whilst it can be envisaged that the pivotal one is
`the child suppon squab; in the preferred embodiments. the
`pivotal one is the child support back. Further in the preferred
`embodiments, the child support back is pivotally attached to
`the child suppon squab.
`
`Page 9 0f 10
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`Preferably the latching means is provided at a high
`[0009]
`position in the child support back and the back portion ofthe
`base.
`
`the actuating formation is
`In one embodiment,
`[0010]
`integral with the strap deflecting means. In another.
`the
`actuating fonnation is arranged to engage with a separate
`strap deflecting member.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`To help understanding of the invention, a specific
`[0011]
`embodiment
`thereof will now be described by way of
`example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`in which:
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from one side ofa first
`child safety seat in accordance with the invention with the
`strap deflecting means in its disengaged position:
`
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofthe seat shown in
`FIG. 1, from the opposite side;
`
`[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view. corresponding
`to FIG. 2, but showing the strap deflecting means in its
`engaged position;
`
`[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seat shown in FIG. 1,
`with the strap deflecting means in its engaged position;
`
`[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from one side view.
`similar to FIG. 1_. ofa second child safety seat in accordance
`with the invention;
`
`[0017] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the seat shown
`in FIG. 5, showing the strap deflecting means in its engaged
`position; and
`FIG. 7 is a rear view ofthe seat shown in FIGS.
`
`[0018]
`5 and 6.
`
`DE’I‘AILED DESCRIPTION OI: THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
`
`[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a child safety seat of
`the invention comprises a base member 10 mounted on a
`vehicle seat 12 and secured in place by the lap and shoulder
`portions 14 and 16 of the strap of the vehicle‘s adult seat
`belt. A child support in the child seat comprises a child
`support squab 18, which is attached to the base member 10,
`and a child support back 20, which is pivotally connected to
`the squab 18 about by a pivot axis 22 and shown in a forward
`folded position.
`
`[0020] The base member 10 consists of a central, getter—
`ally horizontal squab portion 24_. extending below the child
`support squab 18, and a back portion having two L—shaped
`side members 26 and 28, with feet integral with the squab
`portion 24 and stems extending upwardly from opposite
`sides of the squab portion 24. The side members 26 and 28
`are interconnected both by an upper bar 30 and by a pivot
`rod 32. Each side member 26, 28 has a lap belt guide 34. 36
`below the pivot axis 22 and a shoulder belt guide 38, 40
`between the pivot
`rod 32 and the upper bar 30.
`Iiach
`shoulder belt guide 38, 40 incorporates a clamp 42. 44 for
`preventing movement of the adult seat belt relative to them
`once clamped. For the side of the car shown, the lap belt
`guides 34 and 36 and the shoulder belt guide 40 are engaged
`by the lap and shoulder straps l4 and 16 of the vehicle seat
`
`

`

`US 2006i’009ITO9 Al
`
`May 4, 2006
`
`belt. The other shoulder belt guide 38 is provided for use
`when the child safety seat is used on the other side ofthe car.
`
`[0021] A belt deflector 46 projects radially from its pivot
`rod 32 and is shown in FIG. 1 in a position just above the
`path of the lap strap '14 between the lap belt guides 34 and
`36. A projection 48 extends rearwardly from the back of the
`child support back 20 to a positionjust above and in front of
`the belt deflector 46
`in the folded forwards position of the
`back 20—50 as to allow clearance for the lap strap 14 to pass
`therebetween as it is fitted round the lap belt guides 34 and
`36.
`
`[0022] After the child safety seat has been positioned on
`the adult seat the adult belt has been passed over the based
`member and buckled as shown in FIGS. I and 2. the clamp
`44 is secured so as to prevent slack from the shoulder strap
`16 from feeding through the seat belt buckle 50 to the lap
`strap 14. Next, the child support back 20 is pivoted rear-
`wardly so that the projection 48 engages with the radially
`outer end of the belt deflector 46, causing it to pivot to the
`position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, thus tightening the lap
`strap 14 by deflecting it from its direct path between the lap
`belt guides 34 and 36. The back 20 is retained in this position
`by engagement of hook formations 52 and 54 thereon with
`latches (not shown) on the I. members 26 and 28.
`
`FIGS. 5 to 7 show another child safety seat 60 of
`[0023]
`the invention, most of the parts of which are identical with
`the corresponding parts of the seat 10 shown in FIGS. '1 to
`4, are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not
`be described again in detail. However,
`there is no belt
`deflector 46. Instead. the single central projection 46 on the
`back of the child support back 20 is replaced by two
`projections 62 and 64 spaced apart so that. when the support
`back 20 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the
`position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, both projections 62 and
`64 engage with the lap strap 14 between the two lap belt
`guides 34 and 36,
`thus tightening the lap strap 14 by
`deflecting it from its direct path between the lap belt guides
`34 and 36. As before, the support back 20 is retained in this
`position by engagement of hook formations 52 and 54
`thereon with latches (not shown) on the L members 26 and
`28.
`
`I claim:
`
`'1. A child safety seat of the type to be secured to a
`vehicle‘s adult seat by its adult seat belt and comprising:
`
`(a) a child support as such, having:
`
`(i) a child support squab,
`
`(ii) a child support back,
`
`(iii) an actuating formation and
`
`(iv) strap deflecting means.
`
`(b) a generally I. shaped base adapted to rest on the
`vehicle seat and having:
`
`(i) a squab portion for resting on a squab of the adult
`seat with the support squab above it.
`
`(ii) a back portion for abutting against the back of the
`adult seat with the child support back in front of it
`and
`
`(iii) guide means defining a strap path for the adult seat
`belt;
`
`Page 10 of 10
`
`the arrangement being such that movement in a tight-
`ening direction of the actuating formation relative to
`the base causes movement of the strap deflecting
`means between a first position clear of the strap path
`and a second position in which a strap following the
`strap path is deflected therefrom, thereby tightening
`the strap wherein a fixed one of the child support
`squab and the child support back is fixedly attached
`to the base member, the other, pivotal one is pivotally
`attached to the base member or to the fixed one, the
`actuating formation is integral with the pivotal one
`and means is provided for la ching the pivotal one in
`its use position with the strap tensioned.
`2. A child safety seat according o c.aim 1, wherein the
`pivotal one is the child support squab.
`3. A child safety seat according o c.aim 1, wherein the
`pivotal one is the child support back.
`4. A child safety seat according o c.aim 1, wherein the
`child support back is pivotally attac-1ed to the child support
`squab.
`5. A child safety seat according o c.aim 3, wherein the
`latching means is provided at a high position in the child
`support back and the back portion of the base.
`6. A child safety seat according o c.aim 4, wherein the
`latching means is provided at a high position in the child
`support back and the back portion of the base.
`7. A child safety seat according to c aim 1, wherein the
`actuating fonnation is integral with the strap deflecting
`means.
`
`
`
`
`
`8. A child safety seat according to c aim 1, wherein the
`actuating fonnation is arranged to engage with a separate
`strap deflecting member.
`9. A child safety seat according to c aim 3, wherein the
`base comprises two upwards extending side members and an
`upper bar interconnecting the side members, the strap guides
`being provided on the side members.
`10. A child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein the
`strap guides comprise lap strap guides and the strap deflect—
`ing means acts therebetween.
`11. A child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein the
`actuating formation is integral with the strap deflecting
`means and the actuating formation is a formation on the rear
`of the child support back.
`12. A child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein the
`actuating formation is arranged to engage with a separate
`strap deflecting member and the actuating formation is a
`formation on the rear of the child support back.
`13. A child safety seat according to claim 11, wherein the
`strap guides comprise lap strap guides and the strap deflect—
`ing means acts therebetween and the actuating strap deflect—
`ing member is a deflector pivotally carried between the two
`side members.
`
`14. A child safety seat according to claim 12. wherein the
`strap guides comprise lap strap guides and the strap deflect—
`ing means acts therebetween and the actuating strap deflect-
`ing member is a deflector pivotally carried between the two
`side members.
`
`15. A child safety seat according to claim 9. including an
`upper shoulder strap clamp.
`
`