`Yamazaki
`
`US006508510B2
`US 6,508,510 B2
`Jan. 21, 2003
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) CHILD CAR SEAT
`
`6,152,528 A * 11/2000 Van Montfort ........ .. 297/250.1
`
`(75) Inventor: Kojiro Yamazaki, UraWa (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Combi Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`EP
`EP
`
`197 22 096
`0 323 334
`0 816 161
`
`12/1998
`7/1989
`1/1998
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/741,428
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 21, 2000
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2001/0004163 A1 Jun. 21, 2001
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(30)
`
`Dec. 21, 1999
`
`(JP) ......................................... .. 11-362980
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. A47D 1/10
`
`(52) US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 297/2501; 297/2501
`
`(58) Field of Search ....................... .. 297/256.16, 250.1,
`297/468
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Peter M. Cuomo
`Assistant Examiner—Rodney B. White
`(74) Attorney, A gent, or F irm—Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack,
`LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Achild car seat is capable of being easily set on a passenger
`seat (7) of a vehicle and of simply and sufficiently being
`tightening a seat belt
`The child car seat to be ?xedly held
`on a passenger seat (7) of a vehicle by a seat belt (4) has a
`seat belt fastening mechanism (20) for fastening a diagonal
`section (4a) of the seat belt (4), a seat belt tightening
`mechanism (11) for de?ecting a lap section (4b) of a ?xed
`length of the seat belt (4), and a locking mechanism (15) for
`locking the seat belt tightening mechanism (11). The lap
`section (4b) of the seat belt (4) extended across a base (10)
`is de?ected and is kept in a de?ected state to tighten the seat
`belt
`
`5,671,971 A * 9/1997 Koyanagi et al. ...... .. 297/250.1
`5,839,789 A * 11/1998 Koledin ............. .. 297/2501 X
`
`12 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 13
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`Nuna Exhibit 1006
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`FIG. 3
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`FIG. 4
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`FIG. 9
`PRIORART
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`Page 9 of 13
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`US 6,508,510 B2
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`1
`CHILD CAR SEAT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a child car seat and, more
`particularly, to a child car seat to be mounted on a passenger
`seat of a vehicle and fastened to the passenger seat by a seat
`belt.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Referring to FIG. 9, a knoWn child car seat 1 has a seat
`body 2 and a base 3 supporting the seat body 2 thereon. The
`seat body 2 is formed integrally With the base 3 or is
`supported on the base 3 so as to be turnable or tiltable
`relative to the base 3.
`A seat belt 4 of the vehicle is passed through a belt hole
`3a formed in the base 3, and a tongue plate 5 connected to
`the seat belt 4 is engaged With a latch 6 anchored to the ?oor
`of the vehicle to hold the child car seat 1 ?xedly on a
`passenger seat 7 of the vehicle.
`When fastening the child car seat 1 to the passenger seat
`7 by a lap-and-diagonal seat belt 4, a belt section (diagonal
`section) 4a extending from the tongue plate 5 is connected
`to a retractor, not shoWn, and hence the diagonal section 4a
`tends to become loose. Therefore, When the lap-and
`diagonal seat belt 4 is used, the diagonal section 4a and a
`belt section (lap section) 4b extending from the tongue plate
`5 are fastened together by a clip 8.
`A method of setting the child car seat 1 on the passenger
`seat 7 requires the diagonal section 4a and the lap section 4b
`to be tensioned sufficiently When fastening together the
`diagonal section 4a and the lap section 4b by the clip 8.
`When setting the child car seat 1 on the passenger seat 7, the
`diagonal section 4a and the lap section 4b are tensioned by
`attaching the clip 8 to the diagonal section 4a and the lap
`section 4b While the child car seat 1 is pressed ?rmly against
`the passenger seat 7 and the diagonal section 4a is pulled.
`HoWever, such child car seat mounting Work requires the
`simultaneous performance of tWo actions, one for pressing
`the child car seat 1 against the passenger seat 7 and one for
`pulling the diagonal section 4a. This Which is very trouble
`some and requires both physical strength and skill.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a child
`car seat that is easy to set on a passenger seat of a vehicle
`and alloWs for a seat belt for fastening the child car seat in
`place to be simply and suf?ciently tensioned.
`According to the present invention, a child car seat to be
`set and ?xedly held on a passenger seat of a vehicle by a seat
`belt extended betWeen a retractor and a ?xed member,
`comprises a base to be set on the passenger seat; a seat body
`to be set on the base; a seat belt fastening mechanism
`supported on the base for fastening a predetermined portion
`of the seat belt extending from the retractor; a seat belt
`tightening mechanism supported on the base for tightening
`a section extending betWeen the ?xed member and the
`predetermined portion of the seat belt by de?ecting the same
`section toWard the passenger seat; and a locking mechanism
`for locking the seat belt tightening mechanism to keep tight
`the seat belt tightened by the seat belt tightening mechanism.
`Preferably, the seat belt fastening mechanism includes a
`clip, set on the base, that is capable of clipping a portion of
`the seat belt.
`Preferably, the seat belt tightening mechanism includes a
`shaft supported on the base and a lever having a base end
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`65
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`2
`supported on the shaft, and is capable of tightening the seat
`belt by de?ecting the seat belt by turning the lever on the
`shaft.
`Alternatively, the seat belt tightening mechanism includes
`a support arm projecting from the base, and a screW pro
`vided in the support arm, and is capable of tightening the
`seat belt by de?ecting the seat belt by propelling or turning
`the screW.
`Preferably, the locking mechanism is capable of locking
`the seat belt tightening mechanism at one of a plurality of
`positions respectively corresponding to de?ections of the
`seat belt de?ected by the seat belt tightening mechanism.
`Preferably, the seat belt has a diagonal section extending
`from a tongue plate, to be latched at a predetermined
`position on the vehicle, to the retractor, and a lap section
`extending from the tongue plate to the ?xed member. The
`diagonal section is fastened by the seat belt fastening
`mechanism, and the lap section is tightened by the seat belt
`tightening mechanism.
`According to the present invention, the seat belt of the
`vehicle is put on the base, the length of a section of the seat
`belt is ?xed by the seat belt fastening mechanism, and then
`the seat belt can be tightened by the seat belt tightening
`mechanism. Thus, Work for setting the child car seat on the
`passenger seat of the vehicle does not include the simulta
`neous performance of tWo actions for keeping the length of
`the seat belt ?xed and tightening the seat belt. Consequently,
`the seat belt can be easily put on the child car seat, and the
`seat belt used for fastening the child car seat to the passenger
`seat of the vehicle can be sufficiently tightened.
`According to the present invention, the clip set on the base
`may be used as the seat belt fastening mechanism and hence
`there might be no possibility of the clip being lost. When the
`clip is attached to the back part of the base, both hands can
`be used for engaging the seat With the clip at a high position,
`Which facilitates the Work required for fastening the seat
`belt.
`According to the present invention, the seat belt tighten
`ing mechanism may include the lever having the base end
`supported on the shaft supported on the base, and the lever
`may be turned on the shaft to press the seat belt by the free
`end of the lever. Thus, a suf?ciently high tensile force can be
`exerted on the seat belt.
`According to the present invention, the seat belt tighten
`ing mechanism may include the screW supported on the
`support arm projecting from the base, and the screW may be
`propelled or turned to press the seat belt. Thus, an optimum
`tensile force can be optionally selected.
`According to the present invention, the locking mecha
`nism is capable of locking the seat belt tightening mecha
`nism at an optional one of a plurality of positions respec
`tively corresponding to de?ections of the seat belt pressed
`by the seat belt tightening mechanism, so that an optimum
`tensile force can be optionally selected.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective vieW of a child car seat
`in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective vieW of a seat belt tightening
`mechanism and a locking mechanism included in the child
`car seat shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a partly sectional, schematic side elevational
`vieW of the locking mechanism included in the child car seat
`shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective vieW of a seat belt fastening
`mechanism included in the child car seat shoWn in FIG. 1;
`
`Page 10 of 13
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`US 6,508,510 B2
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`FIG. 5 is a front elevational vieW of the child car seat
`shown in FIG. 1, in Which a seat belt is put on a base
`included in the child car seat;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional vieW taken along line VI—VI in FIG.
`5;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic vieW of a modi?ed locking mecha
`nism included in the child car seat shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional vieW of a modi?ed seat
`belt tightening mechanism included in the child car seat
`shoWn in FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 9 is a perspective vieW of a conventional child car
`seat fastened to a passenger seat by a seat belt.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`A child car seat in a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention Will be described With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a child car seat in a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention includes a base 10 to
`be set on a passenger seat 7 of a vehicle, and a seat body, not
`shoWn, to be set on the base 10. The base 10 has a back plate
`10a, a bottom plate 10b and side plates 10c and 10c extended
`betWeen the sides of the back plate 10a and the bottom plate
`10b, respectively. Recesses 10d and 10d are formed in
`inclined surfaces of the side plates 10c and 10c, respectively.
`The seat body may be similar to that of the conventional
`child car seat as shoWn in FIG. 9 and may be attached to the
`base 10 by a method similar to a conventional method.
`The base 10 is fastened to the passenger seat 7 by a
`lap-and-diagonal seat belt 4. The seat belt 4 has a diagonal
`section 4a extending betWeen a tongue plate 5 (FIG. 5) to be
`engaged With a latch 6 (FIG. 5) connected to the ?oor of the
`vehicle and a retractor (not shoWn), and a lap section 4b
`extending betWeen the tongue plate 5 (FIG. 5) and an anchor
`(?xed member) 9 (FIG. 5).
`A seat belt tightening mechanism 11 is set on the back
`plate 10a of the base 10. The seat belt tightening mechanism
`11 includes a lever 12 for pressing the lap section 4b of the
`seat belt 4 toWard the passenger seat 7.
`The lever 12 has a base end supported on a shaft 13
`supported on the side Walls of an opening 14 formed in the
`back plate 10a. The lever 12 is turned on the shaft 13 to press
`the lap section 4b of the seat belt 4 to tighten the same. The
`lever 12 is biased constantly upWardly by a spring, not
`shoWn.
`Referring to FIG. 2, a locking mechanism 15 for locking
`the lever 12 is disposed near the base end of the lever 12 to
`keep the lap section 4b of the seat belt 4 tightened. The
`locking mechanism 15 has a toothed disk 16 provided With
`a plurality of teeth 16a on its circumference, and ?xedly
`combined With the lever 12. The locking mechanism 15 has
`a retaining paWl 17 having a Working end 17a. The retaining
`paWl 17 is supported for turning on the back plate 10a of the
`base 10 by a pin 17b. The retaining paWl 17 is biased toWard
`the toothed disk 16 by a plate spring 18 so that the Working
`end 17a of the retaining paWl 17 engages the teeth 16a of the
`toothed disk 16 selectively. Thus, the lever 12 can be locked
`at a desired one of a plurality of positions respectively
`corresponding to de?ections of the lap section 4b of the seat
`belt 4.
`An operating rod 19 is supported for sliding on the base
`10. The operating rod 19 has one end engaging the retaining
`paWl 17 and the other end provided With a knob 19a. The
`knob 19a of the operating rod 19 projects forWard through
`an opening formed in the back plate 10a of the base 10 as
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`10
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`15
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`shoWn in FIG. 1. The knob 19a is pulled forWard to
`disengage the Working end 17a of the retaining paWl17 from
`the tooth 16a of the toothed disk 16 by tuning the retaining
`paWl 17 on the pin 17b.
`Aseat belt fastening mechanism 20 is set on the back plate
`10a of the base 10 as shoWn in FIG. 1. The seat belt
`fastening mechanism 20 has a rotary disk 21. As shoWn in
`FIG. 4, the rotary disk 21 is provided With a slot 22, through
`Which the diagonal section 4a of the seat belt 4 is extended.
`Aclip 23 is fastened to the bottom surface 22a of the slot 22.
`The clip 23 is formed by bending a plate in a shape having
`a U-shaped cross section. The clip 23 has a back Wall
`fastened to the bottom surface 22a of the slot 22, and a front
`Wall provided With tWo slits 23a and 23a dividing the front
`Wall into a middle portion 23b and tWo side portions 23c and
`23c lying on the opposite sides of the middle portion 23b,
`respectively. The loWer end of the middle section 23b is
`inserted into one of the side Walls of the slot 22. The loWer
`ends of the side portions 23c and 23c are free.
`The diagonal section 4a of the seat belt 4 is tucked in
`spaces under the side portions 23c and 23c so that the
`diagonal section 4a is buckled and extends under the side
`portions 23c and 23c and over the middle portion 23b as
`indicated by tWo-dot chain lines in FIG. 4.
`A procedure for ?xedly setting the child car seat on the
`passenger seat 7 of the vehicle Will be described hereinafter.
`Step 1: The base 10 is set on the passenger seat 7 of the
`vehicle.
`Step 2: The tongue plate 5 of the seat belt 4 is engaged
`With the latch 6 With the lap section 4b of the seat belt 4
`extended under the lever 12 of the seat belt tightening
`mechanism 11.
`Step 3: The diagonal section 4a of the seat belt 4 is pulled
`toWard the tongue plate 5 and is engaged With the clip 23 of
`the seat belt fastening mechanism 20.
`Step 4: The lever 12 of the seat belt tightening mechanism
`11 is turned doWnWardly to de?ect the lap section 4b
`doWnWardly. Consequently, the lap section 4b extending
`betWeen the recesses 10d and 10d of the base 10 is de?ected
`doWnWardly by a distance L as shoWn in FIG. 6. Since the
`seat belt 4 is held ?xedly by the anchor 9 and the seat belt
`fastening mechanism 20, the length of the lap section 4a
`extending betWeen the recesses 10d and 10d of the base 10
`is ?xed. Therefore, the child car seat sinks into the passenger
`seat 7 by a depth corresponding to the distance L, and the lap
`section 4b is tightened When the lap section 4b is depressed
`by the distance L.
`This tight state of the seat belt 4 is maintained by the
`locking mechanism 15 that locks the lever 12.
`When removing the child car seat from the passenger seat
`7 of the vehicle, the lever 12 is unlocked by pulling the knob
`19a of the operating rod 19 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Consequently,
`the seat belt 4 is relaxed. Then, the tongue plate 5 is
`disengaged from the latch 6, the seat belt 4 is separated from
`the seat belt fastening mechanism 20 and the child car seat
`is removed from the passenger seat 7 of the vehicle.
`Thus, the seat belt 4 can be tightened by operating the
`lever 12 of the seat belt tightening mechanism 11 after the
`length of a section of the seat belt 4 has been ?xed by the
`seat belt fastening mechanism 20. Therefore, the Work for
`setting the child car seat on the passenger seat of the vehicle
`does not need to include the simultaneous performance of
`tWo actions for keeping the length of the seat belt ?xed and
`tightening the seat belt. Consequently, the seat belt can be
`easily put on the child car seat and the seat belt used for
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`Page 11 of 13
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`5
`fastening the child car seat to the passenger seat of the
`vehicle can be suf?ciently tightened.
`It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiment is
`only an example of the present invention and the present
`invention is not limited thereto in its practical application.
`For example, a locking mechanism 15 shoWn in FIG. 7
`may be employed. This locking mechanism 15 has a locking
`lever 30 provided With a plurality of teeth 30a, having a base
`end pivotally supported on the bottom plate 10b of the base
`10, and biased clockwise, as vieWed in FIG. 7, by a spring
`31. When tightening the seat belt 4, the lever 12 is turned
`counterclockwise, as vieWed in FIG. 7, and the locking lever
`30 is turned clockWise to engage a desired one of the teeth
`30a of the locking lever 30 With the front end of the lever 12.
`As shoWn in FIG. 8, the lap section 4b of the seat belt 4
`may be tightened by a seat belt tightening mechanism
`formed by projecting a support arm 32 provided With a
`threaded hole from the back plate 10a of the base 10,
`screWing a screW 33 in the threaded hole of the support arm
`32 and rotatably connecting a belt holder 34 to the extremity
`of the screW 33. When tightening the lap section 4b of the
`seat belt 4, the lap section 4b is extended under the belt
`holder 34 and the screW 33 is propelled or turned in the
`threaded hole of the support arm 32 to de?ect the lap section
`4b by a desired distance so that the lap section 4b may be
`tightened. The threaded engagement betWeen the screW 33
`and the threaded hole in the support arm 32 is considered to
`be a locking mechanism, since this engagement alloWs the
`screW 33 to be maintained at one of a plurality of positions
`respectively corresponding to de?ections of the lap section
`4b of the seat belt 4.
`What is claimed is:
`1. Achild car seat to be set and ?xedly held on a passenger
`seat of a vehicle by a seat belt that extends betWeen a
`retractor and a ?xed member, comprising:
`a base to be set on the passenger seat;
`a seat belt fastening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for fastening a ?rst portion of the seat belt so as to
`prevent the seat belt from being pulled from the retrac
`tor;
`a seat belt tightening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for tightening a second portion of the seat belt that
`extends betWeen the ?xed member and ?rst portion of
`the seat belt When the ?rst portion is fastened by said
`seat belt fastening mechanism, by de?ecting the second
`portion of the seat belt toWard the passenger seat When
`said base is on the passenger seat; and
`a locking mechanism to lock said seat belt tightening
`mechanism to maintain the second portion of the seat
`belt in a de?ected condition that results from the second
`portion being de?ected by said seat belt tightening
`mechanism,
`Wherein said locking mechanism is adapted to lock the
`seat belt tightening mechanism at one of a plurality of
`positions that respectively correspond to de?ections of
`the second portion of the seat belt as de?ected by said
`seat belt tightening mechanism, and
`Wherein said seat belt tightening mechanism includes a
`shaft supported on said base, and a lever having a base
`end supported by said shaft, With said seat belt tight
`ening mechanism being adapted to tighten the second
`portion of the seat belt by de?ecting the second portion
`of the seat belt in response to turning of said lever about
`said shaft such that the second portion of the seat belt
`is pushed by said lever.
`2. Achild car seat to be set and ?xedly held on a passenger
`seat of a vehicle by a seat belt that extends betWeen a
`retractor and a ?xed member, comprising:
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`5
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`a base to be set on the passenger seat;
`a seat belt fastening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for fastening a ?rst portion of the seat belt so as to
`prevent the seat belt from being pulled from the retrac
`tor; and
`a seat belt tightening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for tightening a second portion of the seat belt that
`extends betWeen the ?xed member and ?rst portion of
`the seat belt When the ?rst portion is fastened by said
`seat belt fastening mechanism, by de?ecting the second
`portion of the seat belt toWard the passenger seat When
`said base is on the passenger seat,
`Wherein said seat belt tightening mechanism includes a
`shaft supported on said base, and a lever having a base
`end supported by said shaft, With said seat belt tight
`ening mechanism being adapted to tighten the second
`portion of the seat belt by de?ecting the second portion
`of the seat belt in response to turning of said lever about
`said shaft such that the second portion of the seat belt
`is pushed by said lever.
`3. Achild car seat to be set and ?xedly held on a passenger
`seat of a vehicle by a seat belt that extends betWeen a
`retractor and a ?xed member, comprising:
`a base to be set on the passenger seat;
`a seat belt fastening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for fastening a ?rst portion of the seat belt so as to
`prevent the seat belt from being pulled from the retrac
`tor; and
`a seat belt tightening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for tightening a second portion of the seat belt that
`extends betWeen the ?xed member and ?rst portion of
`the seat belt When the ?rst portion is fastened by said
`seat belt fastening mechanism, by de?ecting the second
`portion of the seat belt toWard the passenger seat When
`said base is on the passenger seat,
`Wherein said seat belt tightening mechanism includes a
`support arm projecting from said base, and a screW
`supported in said support arm, With said seat belt
`tightening mechanism being adapted to tighten the
`second portion of the seat belt by de?ecting the second
`portion of the seat belt in response to turning of said
`screW such that the second portion of the seat belt is
`pushed by said screW.
`4. Achild car seat to be set and ?xedly held on a passenger
`seat of a vehicle by a seat belt that extends betWeen a
`retractor and a ?xed member, comprising:
`a base to be set on the passenger seat;
`a seat belt fastening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for fastening a ?rst portion of the seat belt so as to
`prevent the seat belt from being pulled from the retrac
`tor; and
`a seat belt tightening mechanism, supported on said base,
`for tightening a second portion of the seat belt that
`extends betWeen the ?xed member and ?rst portion of
`the seat belt When the ?rst portion is fastened by said
`seat belt fastening mechanism, by de?ecting the second
`portion of the seat belt toWard the passenger seat When
`said base is on the passenger seat,
`Wherein said seat belt fastening mechanism is to fasten the
`?rst portion of the seat belt by fastening a diagonal
`section of the seat belt that extends from the retractor
`to a tongue plate that is latched at a predetermined
`position on the vehicle, and Wherein said seat belt
`tightening mechanism is to tighten the second portion
`of the seat belt by tightening a lap section of the seat
`belt that extends from the tongue plate to the ?xed
`member.
`
`Page 12 of 13
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`US 6,508,510 B2
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`7
`5. The child car seat according to claim 4, further com
`prising:
`a seat body to be set on said base; and
`a locking mechanism to lock said seat belt tightening
`mechanism to maintain the second portion of the seat
`belt in a de?ected condition that results from the second
`portion being de?ected by said seat belt tightening
`mechanism.
`6. The child car seat according to claim 3, further com
`prising:
`a seat body to be set on said base; and
`a locking mechanism to lock said seat belt tightening
`mechanism to maintain the second portion of the seat
`belt in a de?ected condition that results from the second
`portion being de?ected by said seat belt tightening
`mechanism.
`7. The child car seat according to claim 3, further com
`prising:
`a seat body to be set on said base,
`Wherein said seat belt fastening mechanism includes a clip
`on said base, said clip being adapted to clip a portion
`of the seat belt.
`8. The child car seat according to claim 7, Wherein said
`seat belt fastening mechanism is to fasten the ?rst portion of
`the seat belt by fastening a diagonal section of the seat belt
`that eXtends from the retractor to a tongue plate that is
`latched at a predetermined position on the vehicle, and
`Wherein said seat belt tightening mechanism is to tighten the
`second portion of the seat belt by tightening a lap section of
`the seat belt that eXtends from the tongue plate to the ?xed
`member.
`
`15
`
`8
`9. The child car seat according to claim 2, further com
`prising:
`a seat body to be set on said base; and
`a locking mechanism to lock said seat belt tightening
`mechanism to maintain the second portion of the seat
`belt in a de?ected condition that results from the second
`portion being de?ected by said seat belt tightening
`mechanism.
`10. The child car seat according to claim 9, Wherein said
`seat belt fastening mechanism includes a clip on said base,
`said clip being adapted to clip a portion of the seat belt.
`11. The child car seat according to claim 10, Wherein said
`locking mechanism is adapted to lock the seat belt tightening
`mechanism at one of a plurality of positions that respectively
`correspond to de?ections of the second portion of the seat
`belt as de?ected by said seat belt tightening mechanism.
`12. The child car seat according to claim 11, Wherein said
`seat belt fastening mechanism is to fasten the ?rst portion of
`the seat belt by fastening a diagonal section of the seat belt
`that eXtends from the retractor to a tongue plate that is
`latched at a predetermined position on the vehicle, and
`Wherein said seat belt tightening mechanism is to tighten the
`second portion of the seat belt by tightening a lap section of
`the seat belt that eXtends from the tongue plate to the ?Xed
`member.
`
`Page 13 of 13
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