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`USOOS611596A
`
`United States Patent
`[19]
`5,611,596
`[11] Patent Number:
`Mar. 18, 1997
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Barley et al.
`
`[54] CHILD SAFETY SEAT
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Geofl'rey W. Barley, Salisbury; David
`W. Burleigh, Bognor Regis; Shaun
`Carine, Andover; Andrew P.
`Beaumont, Basingstoke, all of England;
`Hermann Wetter, Ulm, Germany
`
`[73] Assignee: Britax-Excelsior Limited, Hampshire,
`England
`
`[21] App]. No.: 605,271
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 6, 1996
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,762,364
`8/1988 Young ............................ 297/256.13 X
`
`5/1989 Meeker .............
`297/256.13 X
`4,826,246
`4/1990 Takahashi et a1.
`................. 297/256.13
`4,913,490
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4240450
`4405147
`
`3/1994 Germany .
`8/1995 Germany .
`
`Primary Examiner—Peter M. Cuomo
`Assistant Examiner—Rodney B. White
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Davis and Bujold
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Feb. 18, 1995
`
`[GB]
`
`United Kingdom ................... 9503222
`
`Int. Cl.6 ................................ A47C 1/08; A47D 1/10
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`................................ 297/256.13; 397/354.12;
`397/35413; 397/363; 397/364; 397/368;
`397/369
`
`[58] Field of Search ......................... 297/256.13, 354.12,
`297/354.13, 363, 364, 368, 369
`
`A child safety seat for use in a vehicle comprises a seat body
`having a seat portion and a backrest portion. Guides on the
`seat body define a strap path for a strap of an adult seat belt
`which secures the seat body to a vehicle seat. A strap
`deflecting lever is movable between a first position clear of
`said strap path and a second position in which the strap is
`deflected and thus tightened.
`
`29 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
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`1
`CHILD SAFETY SEAT
`
`FIELD
`
`This invention relates to a child safety seat for use in a
`vehicle of the type comprising a seat body having a seat
`portion and a backrest portion, a child restraint for an
`occupant of the seat secured to the seat, and guide means on
`the seat defining a strap path for a strap of an adult seat belt
`to secure the seat to a vehicle seat.
`
`The disadvantage of this arrangement is that, even if the
`adult belt is pulled very tight during installation, the resil-
`ience of both the vehicle seat and the adult belt will permit
`undesirable movement of the child seat relative to the
`vehicle in the event of sudden deceleration, for example
`during an accident.
`
`RELATED ART
`
`US. Pat. No. 4,913,490 discloses a child safety seat of
`this type in which the guide means includes two pivotally
`mounted levers which can be moved away from the normal
`positions which they occupy when the child seat is secured
`in the vehicle but which relies on a vehicle seat belt retractor
`to tighten the vehicle seat belt after the levers have been
`secured in said normal positions.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to the invention, a child safety seat of the type
`described above has strap deflecting means mounted on the
`seat for movement between a first position clear of said strap
`path and a second position in which a strap following said
`strap path is deflected therefrom, thereby to tighten such
`strap.
`is provided with blocking means
`the seat
`Preferably,
`arranged to obstruct passage along said strap path of objects
`of larger cross-section than said strap when the strap deflect—
`ing means is in its second position.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`in
`FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of a child safety seat
`accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, with
`the strap deflecting means in the first position;
`FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional taken on the line
`2—2 in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the seat shown in FIGS. 1 and
`2, with the strap deflecting means in the second position;
`FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional taken on the line
`4—4 in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional View, similar to FIG. 2, of a
`second embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 6 is a is a cross-sectional View, similar to FIG. 4 of
`the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, of a
`third embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 8 is a is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, of
`the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;
`in
`FIG. 9 is a rear elevation of a child safety seat
`accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, with
`the strap deflecting means in the first position;
`FIG. 10 is a partially broken away side view of the seat
`shown in FIG. 9;
`
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`2
`FIG. 12 is a side view, similar to FIG. 10 but with the strap
`deflecting means in the second position;
`FIG. 13 is a rear elevation of a child safety seat in
`accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, with
`the strap deflecting means in the first position;
`FIG. 14 is a partially broken away plan view from below
`of the seat shown in FIG. 13, with the strap deflecting means
`in the first position;
`FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15—15 in
`FIG. 13;
`FIG. 16 is a rear elevation of the seat shown in FIG. 13,
`with the strap deflecting means in the second position; and
`FIG. 17 is a partially broken away plan View from below,
`similar to FIG. 14 but with the strap deflecting means in the
`second position.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a child safety seat comprises
`a shell 10 and a base 12. The shell 10 is formed as a
`one-piece plastics moulding and has a seat portion 14, a
`backrest portion 16 and side walls 18 and 20. Respective
`reinforcing beams 22 and 24 project downwardly and rear-
`wardly from the junction between each side wall 18, 20 and
`the seat and backrest portions 14 and 16.
`The base 12 has a pair of upstanding walls 26 and 28,
`spaced apart by a greater distance than the beams 22 and 24
`of the shell 10 and carrying a pair of mutually aligned stub
`axles 30 and 32 which are joumaled in holes in the beams
`22 and 24 so as to pivotally connect the shell 10 to the base
`12. A central projection 34 on the base 12 has front and rear
`notches 36 and 38 in its upper surface, forming alternative
`detent recesses whereby the shell 10 may be secured either
`in an upright position (as illustrated), or in a reclined
`position, as will be described hereinafter.
`The shell 10 is fitted with a conventional harness for a
`
`child occupant, consisting of a pair of shoulder straps 40
`connected by a buckle 42 to a crotch strap 44. The backrest
`portion 16 has three sets of slots 46 to provide alternative
`positions for attaching the shoulder straps 40. The harness
`may also include a pair of lap straps 48.
`In use, the base 12 is positioned on a vehicle seat and
`secured in place by an adult lap belt 50 which projects
`through openings 52 in each of the beams 22 and 24. Each
`of the openings 52 has an upper extension 54, one of which
`is used to receive an adult shoulder belt when the child seat
`is installed on a vehicle seat equipped with a three-point
`adult seat belt.
`
`In accordance with the invention, a pair of belt deflection
`levers 60 and 62 which are formed integrally with a hori-
`zontal shaft 64, the ends of which project through the beams
`22 and 24 and have respective shutters 66 and 68 secured
`thereon. The lever 62 has a forwardly and downwardly
`projecting extension 70 containing a transverse opening 72
`which receives one end of a coupling lever 74. The coupling
`lever 74, is pivotally mounted at its centre on a pin 76 which
`projects forwardly from a web 78 extending between the
`beams 22 and 24. The other end of the coupling lever 74 is
`engaged by a crank 80 on the rear end of a longitudinally
`extending shaft 82 which is joumaled in holes in a second
`web 84 (parallel to the web 78) and the front edge of the seat
`shell 10, and has a handle 86 on its front end.
`
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a component of the child
`safety seat shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;
`
`When the lap belt 50 has been secured, as shown in FIGS.
`1 and 2, the handle 86 is turned through 90° to the position
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`shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The crank 80 pivots the coupling
`lever 74 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3) to
`a horizontal position, thereby pivoting the deflection levers
`60 and 62 rearwardly of the rear edges of the openings 52 in
`the beams 22 and 24. This tightens the adult belt 50 by
`causing it to follow a longer path between the two openings
`52.
`
`At the same time, an offset portion 88 of the longitudi—
`nally extending shaft 82 (located in front of the web 84)
`moves into engagement with the rear notch 36 in the central
`projection 34 on the base 12 to secure the shell 10 in its
`upright position relative to the base 12. Alternatively, if the
`shell 10 is in its reclined position when the coupling lever 74
`is turned counterclockwise,
`the offset portion 88 of the
`longitudinally extending shaft 82 engages with the front
`notch 38.
`When the deflection levers 60 and 62 are in their rearward
`position, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shutters 66 and
`68 cover the lower parts of the openings 52 in the beams 22
`and 24. Consequently,
`if the lever 86 is pivoted to its
`horizontal position (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) before the
`adult lap belt 50 has been inserted through the openings 52,
`subsequent insertion is obstructed. This minimises possible
`maloperation due to insertion of the adult belt in front of the
`deflection levers 60 and 62.
`
`FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified child safety seat, having
`a shell 10, a base 12, and deflection levers 60 and 62 which
`are formed integrally with a horizontal shaft 64. Many of the
`other components are the same as the corresponding com-
`ponents of the seat shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and are denoted
`by the same reference numerals. However, in place of the
`longitudinal shaft 82 and coupling lever 74, the horizontal
`shaft 64 carries a disk 90 which is coupled by an eccentric
`link 92 to a similar disk 94 which is joumaled on an axle 96
`under the front part of the seat portion 14. The disk 94
`carries a stalk 98 which projects through a slot 100 in the
`seat portion 14 and has the buckle 42 on its radially outer
`end.
`
`Angular movement of the stalk 98 from the position
`shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6, brings the
`buckle 42 into a position in which it can engage with the
`shoulder and lap straps 40 and 48 of the harness. A latch
`lever 102 is resiliently biased upwardly so that a detent 104
`thereon engages in a notch 106 in the disk 94 to hold the
`deflection levers 60 and 62 in the position shown in FIG. 6.
`The front end of the latch lever 102 projects through an
`opening 108 in the front edge of the seat portion 14 to enable
`the detent 104 to be disengaged manually.
`The stalk may be connected rigidly to the disk 94 but the
`buckle 42 then requires extensive padding to avoid injuring
`a child occupant of the seat during an accident. It
`is
`preferable for the stalk 98 to be pivotally mounted on the
`disk 94 with rearward angular movement limited by a stop
`110. In the event of an accident, the stalk 94 can pivot
`forwardly to the position shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG.
`6.
`
`FIGS. 7 and 8 show another modified child safety seat,
`having a shell 10, a base 12, and deflection levers 60 and 62
`which are formed integrally with a horizontal shaft 64. Many
`of the other components are the same as the corresponding
`components of the seat shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and are
`denoted by the same reference numerals. In this seat, in
`place of the longitudinal shaft 82 and coupling lever 74, an
`opening 120 is formed towards the rear of the seat portion
`14. A flap 122, having an upper surface dimensioned to fit
`the opening 120, is pivotally mounted on an axle 124 below
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`the rear edge of the opening. The flap 122 also has a heel 126
`projecting rearwardly below the seat portion 14 into cam-
`ming engagement with the deflection levers 60 and 62.
`When the deflection levers 60 and 62 are in their forward
`position, allowing the adult lap belt to be threaded through
`the openings 52, the flap 122 projects upwardly as shown in
`FIG. 7, preventing occupation of the seat shell 10 by a child.
`When the flap 122 is pressed down level with the seat
`portion 14, the deflection levers 60 and 62 are moved to the
`position shown in FIG. 8, tensioning the adult lap belt 50.
`The seats shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 may be provided with
`shutters similar to the shutters 66 and 68 of FIGS. 1 to 4 to
`minimise possible maloperation due to insertion of the adult
`belt in front of the deflection levers 60 and 62. The shells 10
`
`of both such seats are tiltable relative to their respective
`bases 12 and have means (not shown) for securing them in
`alternative upright and reclined positions.
`Refening to FIGS. 9 to 12, another child safety seat
`comprises a shell 210 and a base 212. The shell 210 is
`formed as a one-piece plastics moulding and has a seat
`portion 214, a backrest portion 216 and side walls 218 and
`220. Respective reinforcing beams 222 and 224 project
`downwardly and rearwardly from the junction between each
`side wall 218, 220 and the seat and backrest portions 214 and
`216.
`
`The base 212 has a pair of upstanding walls 226 and 228,
`spaced apart by a greater distance than the beams 222 and
`224 of the shell 210 and carrying a pair of mutually aligned
`stub axles 230 and 232 which are joumaled in holes in the
`beams 222 and 224 so as to pivotally connect the shell 210
`to the base 212. Latch means (not shown) secure the shell
`210 either in an upright position (as illustrated), or in a
`reclined position.
`The shell 210 is fitted with a conventional harness for a
`child occupant, consisting of a pair of shoulder straps 234
`and a pair of lap straps 236 connected by a buckle 238 to a
`crotch strap (not shown). The backrest portion 216 has two
`sets of slots 240 to provide alternative positions for attaching
`the shoulder straps 234.
`In use, the base 212 is positioned on a vehicle seat and
`secured in place by an adult three—point belt, the lap strap
`248 and shoulder strap 250 of which project through open-
`ings 252 in each of the beams 222 and 224.
`In accordance with the invention, a clamping rod 260,
`having an operating handle 262 on its upper end, is j oumaled
`in a bearing 264 which is secured to the shell 210 near the
`top of the seat back and which allows a limited range of
`angular movement of the clamping rod 260 about orthogonal
`horizontal axes. The bottom of the clamping rod 260 is
`rigidly attached to a laterally projecting lever 266 which is
`pivotally connected to one end of a link 268, the other end
`of which is connected by a pivot pin 270 to a strut 272
`extending between the beams 222 and 224.
`A clamp plate 274 extends between the beams 222 and
`224 above the strut 272. As can best be seen from FIG. 11,
`the clamp plate 274 has a recess 276 having a frusto-conical
`surface, the upper part 278 of which is knurled. The clamp
`plate 274 also has side flanges 280 and 282 which abut
`against the beams 222 and 224.
`When the lever 266 is in end-to-end alignment with the
`link 268, as shown in FIG. 10, the clamping rod 260 is in
`close proximity to the backrest portion 216 and the adult belt
`248, 250 can readily pass through the openings 252 in the
`beams 222 and 224 and between the clamping rod 260 and
`the clamp plate 274. If the handle is then turned through
`180° to the position shown in FIG. 12, the lap strap 248 is
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`tensioned by being deflected rearwardly into the bottom part
`of the recess 276. At the same time, the shoulder strap 250
`is clamped between the clamping rod 260 and the knurled
`upper part 278 of the recess 276. If, as is usual the lap strap
`248 and the shoulder strap 250 of the adult belt are formed
`from a continuous length of webbing which runs trough a
`loop on a buckle tongue, this prevents webbing from the
`shoulder strap 250 feeding through such loop so as to
`lengthen the lap strap.
`FIGS. 13 to 17 show yet another child safety seat com-
`prising a shell 310 and a base 312. The shell 310 is formed
`as a one-piece plastics moulding and has a seat portion 314,
`a backrest portion 316 and side walls 318 and 320. Respec—
`tive reinforcing beams 322 and 324 project downwardly and
`rearwardly from the junction between each side wall 318,
`320 and the seat and backrest portions 314 and 316.
`The base 312 has a pair of upstanding walls 326 and 328,
`spaced apart by a greater distance than the beams 322 and
`324 of the shell 310 and carrying a pair of mutually aligned
`stub axles 330 and 332 which are joumaled in holes in the
`beams 322 and 324 so as to pivotally connect the shell 310
`to the base 312 so that the shell is movable between an
`
`upright position (as illustrated), or a reclined position. The
`base 312 has a handle 334 extending along its front edge.
`The shell 310 is fitted with a conventional harness (not
`shown) for a child occupant, similar to the harness of FIGS.
`9 to 12. The side wall 318 has a slot 336 for one of the lap
`straps of such a harness and the other side wall 316 has a
`corresponding slot (not shown). The backrest portion 316
`has two sets of slots 340 to provide alternative positions for
`attaching the shoulder straps.
`The base 312 can be positioned on a vehicle seat and the
`child seat secured in place by an adult three-point belt, the
`lap strap 348 and shoulder strap 350 of which project
`through openings 352 in each of the beams 322 and 324.
`A pair of flaps 354 and 356 are mounted on the backrest
`316 by respective hinges 358 and 360 which extend adjacent
`to the openings 352 in respective beams 322 and 324 so that
`each of the flaps 354 and 356 can pivot between a position
`in which it abuts against the back of the backrest 316, as
`shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, and a position in which it
`extends across its respective opening 352 so as to deflect the
`lap strap 348 and shoulder strap 350 of the adult seat belt
`rearwardly from their direct path between the openings 352
`in the two beams 322 and 324, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and
`17. In order to control this movement, each of the flaps 354
`and 356 has a respective pivot pin 360, 362 projecting
`downwardly from its bottom edge near the corner further
`from the hinges 358 and 360. The pivot pins 360 and 362 are
`connected by respective links 364 and 366 to a pivot pin 368
`on one end of an operating rod 370 which projects outwardly
`from the front edge of the seat shell 310 below the seat
`portion 314 and which has a handle 372 on its outer end.
`The base 312 has a pair of plates 374 and 376 extending
`upwardly parallel to the walls 326, 328 and adjacent to the
`inner face of the rear part of each of the beams 322 and 324.
`Each of the plates 374 and 376 has a respective upper latch
`hole 378 and a respective lower latch hole 380 (FIG. 15).
`The flaps 354 and 356 have respective arcuate bolts 382, 384
`projecting from what are their rear faces in FIGS. 13 to 15.
`When the flaps are pivoted to the positions illustrated in
`FIGS. 16 and 17, these bolts 382 and 384 engage in the
`upper holes 378 in the plates 374 and 376 to secure the seat
`shell 310 is in its upright position, as illustrated, and through
`the lower holes 380 to secure the seat shell 310 is in its
`
`reclined position. The bolts 382 and 384 also serve the
`
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`purpose of preventing the handle 372 from being pushed in
`fully when the seat shell 310 is in an intermediate position.
`As can be seen from FIGS. 16 and 17, the bolts 382 and 384
`extend into the respective beams 322 and 324 when fully
`engaged.
`In use, the child seat is positioned in the vehicle and the
`handle 372 pulled out to the position illustrated in FIG. 15
`in order to fold the flaps 354 and 356 flat against the back
`of the backrest 316, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. Next,
`the adult belt is threaded through the openings 352 in the
`beams 322 and 324, fastened and tightened manually. The
`handle 334 is used to pull
`the base 312 forwardly or
`rearwardly on the vehicle seat, so as to pivot the seat shell
`310 about the stub axles 330 and 332, either to its upright
`position or to its reclined position, as desired. The handle
`372 is then pushed in so as to cause the flaps 354 and 356
`to further tighten the adult seat belt 348, 350. Since the pivot
`pin 368 on the rear end of the rod 370 is moved further
`towards the back of the seat that the pivot pins 360 and 362
`on the flaps 354 and 356, the inward force exerted by the
`adult seat belt 348, 350 on the rear edges of the flaps 354 and
`356 tends to displace the rod 370 further to the rear but any
`such movement is resisted by abutment of the handle 372
`against the front edge of the seat portion 314 of the shell 310.
`The bolts 382 and 384 project through either the holes 378
`or the holes 380 in the plates 374 and 376, to secure the seat
`shell 310 in the desired position.
`If it is desired to move the seat from the upright position
`to the reclined position or vice versa, the handle 372 is first
`pulled out, thereby both disengaging the bolts 374 and 376
`and slackening the adult seat belt somewhat so that it can
`slide freely in the openings 352 as the seat shell 310 is tilted.
`The seat shell 310 is then moved to its desired position using
`the handle 334 on the base 312. Finally, the handle 372 is
`pushed back to re-engage the bolts 382 and 384 and
`retighten the straps 348 and 350 of the adult seat belt. This
`operation can be performed without disturbing a sleeping
`child occupant of the seat since there is no need to disengage
`the child harness.
`
`When the child seat is to be removed from the vehicle, the
`handle 372 is first pulledvout. The adult seat belt can then be
`unfastened and pulled out of the openings 352.
`We claim:
`
`1. A child safety seat for use in a vehicle comprising:
`a seat body having a seat portion and a backrest portion,
`a child restraint for an occupant of the seat secured to the
`seat,
`
`guide means on the seat having strap abutment surfaces
`defining a strap path for a strap of a vehicle seat belt to
`secure the seat to a vehicle seat, and
`
`strap deflecting means mounted on the seat for movement
`relative to said guide means between a first position
`clear of said strap path and a second position in which
`said strap deflecting means abuts against a strap fol—
`lowing said strap path to deflect such strap from said
`strap path and thereby to tighten such strap.
`2. A child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the
`guide means comprises first and second strap guides spaced
`apart from one another along said strap path and the strap
`deflecting means is located between the first and second
`strap guides.
`3. A child safety seat according to claim 2, further
`comprising blocking means arranged to obstruct passage
`along said strap path of objects of larger cross-section than
`said strap when the strap deflecting means is in its second
`position.
`
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`5,611,596
`
`7
`
`4. A child safety seat according to claim 3, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a pivotally mounted lever
`and manually operable control means for causing angular
`movement of said lever between said first and second
`
`positions and the blocking means comprises a shutter
`coupled to the control means so as to be moved thereby into
`a position extending across part of the guide means when the
`pivotally mounted lever is in its second position.
`5. A child safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the
`strap path between the first and second strap guides is
`straight.
`6. A child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein the
`seat body comprises a moulded shell having a pair of
`reinforcing beams projecting rearwardly from the backrest
`portion and the strap guides comprises openings in each of
`the beams.
`
`7. A child safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a pivotally mounted lever
`and manually operable control means for causing angular
`movement of said lever between said first and second
`positions.
`8. A child safety seat according to claim 7, wherein the
`control means comprises a shaft extending longitudinally
`under the seat portion and having a handle on its front end,
`and a coupling means coupling the shaft to the pivotally
`mounted lever.
`
`9. A child safety seat according to claims 7, wherein the
`child restraint includes a buckle mounted on a stalk, and the
`control means comprises a pivotal mount for the stalk, and
`a coupling means connecting the pivotal mount
`to the
`pivotally mounted lever.
`10. A child safety seat according to claim 7, wherein the
`control means comprises a flap which ms pivotally mounted
`in an opening in the seat portion, and coupling means
`connecting the flap to the pivotally mounted lever so that the
`flap is level with the seat portion when the pivotally mounted
`lever is in its second position.
`11. A child safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a reaction member having
`a recess adjacent to said strap path and a clamping member
`movable between said first position in which it is on an
`opposite side of said strap path to the reaction member and
`said second position in which it extends into the recess.
`12. A child safety seat according to claim 11, wherein the
`clamping member comprises a clamping rod joumaled in a
`pivot bearing mounted on the seat back, the recess is of
`frustoconical shape having its apex coincident with said
`pivot bearing, and link means couples the clamping rod to
`the seat body on an opposite side of the reaction member to
`the pivot hearing so as to constrain the clamping rod to move
`in a conical path.
`13. A child safety seat according to claim 1, further
`comprising blocking means movable with the strap deflect-
`ing means and arranged to cooperate with the guide means
`to obstruct passage along said strap path of objects of larger
`cross-section than said strap when the strap deflecting means
`is in its second position.
`14. A child safety seat according to claim 13, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a pivotally mounted lever
`and manually operable control means for causing angular
`movement of said lever between said first and second
`positions and the blocking means comprises a shutter
`coupled to the control means so as to be moved thereby into
`a position extending across part of the guide means when the
`pivotally mounted lever is in its second position.
`15. A child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a pivotally mounted lever
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4o
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`'60
`
`65
`
`8
`and manually operable control means for causing angular
`movement of said lever between said first and second
`positions.
`16. A child safety seat according to claim 15, wherein the
`control means comprises a shaft extending longitudinally
`under the seat portion and having a handle on its front end,
`and a coupling means coupling the shaft to the pivotally
`mounted lever.
`17. A child safety seat according to claim 15, wherein the
`child restraint includes a buckle mounted on a stalk, and the
`control means comprises a pivotal mount for the stalk, and
`a coupling means connecting the pivotal mount
`to the
`pivotally mounted lever.
`18. A child safety seat according to claim 15, wherein the
`control means comprises a flap which is pivotally mounted
`in an opening in the seat portion, and coupling means
`connecting the flap to the pivotally mounted lever so that the
`flap is level with the seat portion when the pivotally mounted
`lever is in its second position.
`19. A child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the
`strap deflecting means comprises a reaction member having
`a recess adjacent to said strap path and a clamping member
`movable between said first position in which it is on an
`opposite side of said strap path to the reaction member and
`said second position in which it extends into the recess.
`20. A child safety seat according to claim 19, wherein the
`clamping member comprises a clamping rod joumaled in a
`pivot bearing mounted on the seat back, the recess is of
`frustoconical shape having its apex coincident with said
`pivot bearing, and link means couples the clamping rod to
`the seat body on an opposite side of the reaction member to
`the pivot bearing so as to constrain the clamping rod to move
`in a conical path.
`21. A child safety seat according to claim 20, wherein the
`link means comprises a lever which is rigidly attached to the
`clamping rod so as to project radially therefrom,and a link
`pivotally attached at one end to a radially outer end of the
`lever and pivotally attached at another end to the seat shell.
`22. A child safety seat for use in a vehicle comprising:
`a seat body having a seat portion and a backrest portion,
`a child restraint for an occupant of the seat secured to the
`seat,
`
`guide means on the seat having strap abutment surfaces
`defining a strap path for a strap of a vehicle seat belt to
`secure the seat to a vehicle seat, and
`
`strap deflecting means comprising a flap pivotally
`mounted on the backrest adjacent to the guide means so
`as to be pivotable between a first position in which it
`abuts against the backrest and a second position in
`which it extends across the guide means, and manually
`operable control means for causing angular movement
`of said flap from said first position to said second
`position, so as to tighten a strap following said strap
`path.
`23. A child safety seat according to claim 22, wherein the
`flap, when in its second position, extends across the guide
`means sufliciently to obstruct passage along said strap path
`of objects of larger cross-section than said strap.
`24. A child safety seat according to claim 22, wherein the
`control means comprises a slider extending longitudinally
`under the seat portion and having a handle on its front end,
`and pivot links coupling the slider to the flap.
`25. A child safety seat according to claim 22, wherein the
`guide means comprises first and second strap guides spaced
`apart from one another along said strap path and the strap
`deflecting means is located between the first and second
`strap guides.
`
`Page 21 of 22
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`5,611,596
`
`10
`strap deflecting means mounted on the seat for movement
`relative to said guide means between a first position
`clear of said strap path and a second position in which
`
`said strap deflecting means abuts against a strap f01'
`lowing said strap path to deflect “011 strap from said
`strap path and thereby to tighten such strap, and
`
`a latch means linked to the strap deflecting means so as to
`block such angular movement when the strap deflecting
`means is in its second position.
`29. A child safety seat according to claim 28, wherein the
`
`guide means comprises first and second strap guides spaced
`apart from one another along said strap path and the strap
`15 deflecting means is located between the first and second
`strap guides.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`9
`26. A child safety seat according to claim 25, wherein the
`flap, when in its second position, extends across the guide
`means sufliciently to obstruct passage along said strap path
`of objects of larger cross—section than said strap.
`27. A child safety seat according t