AU2014218407B2

AU2014218407B2 - An improved connector

Info

Publication number: AU2014218407B2
Application number: AU2014218407A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mike Lumley; Wieslaw Maciejczyk
Original assignee: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-27
Filing date: 2014-08-27
Publication date: 2019-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-27
Also published as: AU2014218407A1

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a connector for a child safety seat used to secure the child safety seat to a motor vehicle wherein the connector has a connector body having a latch means for releasably securing the connector with respect of a motor vehicle seat, a latch release means arranged to at least release the latch, the latch release means including a portion that is manually operated to release the latch release means and one or more projections arranged around the portion that is manually operated to provide a barrier to inadvertent operation of the latch release means. In this way the latch release means is protected against inadvertent operation. \,l 3 Fiur

Description

[0001 ] This invention relates to connectors used to secure child safety seats within a motor vehicle and particular to a connector having latch means for securing to predetermined connection positions provided in motor vehicle seats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Examples of such connectors are the latches which are designed to meet the Isofix international standard for attachment points or child safety seats in passenger vehicles or other equivalent country standards. Isofix defines a pair of standard attachment points to enable compliant child safety seats to be quickly and safely secured with respect of the motor vehicle seats. In most instances, a horizontal 6mm diameter bar is presented on either side of a safety seat. The bar may be part of a U-shaped loop secured to the seat or part of the vehicle, or it may be bar mounted to a bracket that is in turn secured with respect to the vehicle seat.

[0003] The type of connector referred to above is illustrated and described in US Patent No 6,962,394 and Australian Design No 200815903. This type of connector has a body with one end adapted to connect to motor vehicle seat Isofix anchorage points. A latch is located within the body of the connector and the connector has an opening to receive the Isofix anchorage point, which is then engaged by the latch. The connectors illustrated in the above mentioned US patent and Australian design have a latch release means comprising a button at the rear end of the connector which is depressed to open the latch to enable the connector to be released. The connector has an aperture for attachment or passing therethrough of flexible webbing used to secure the connector to a safety seat.

[0004] One problem with such connectors is the possibility of inadvertent release particularly as a result of movement of the safety seat during an accident. The connector body, while latched with respect to the vehicle seat, may be at an angle as much as 45 degrees from the horizontal. It is also free to rotate with respect to the Isofix anchorage point. Any further rearward rotation of the safety seat, such as may occur during an accident when the safety seat rebounds back into the backrest of the vehicle seat, will result in the connector body being further rotated towards the vertical position where the rear end of the connector may impinge against the backrest of the vehicle seat. The backrest of the vehicle seat is in most cases sufficiently compliant so resulting in deformation around the connector body. This in turn may result in a portion of the backrest deforming sufficiently around the connector to operate the latch release means. This results in the connector being released.

2014218407 13 Sep 2019 [0005] There may be also circumstances where foreign objects may impinge against the latch release means and thereby cause inadvertent operation.

[0006] Clearly, the inadvertent release of the connector is highly undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In one aspect, the invention is a connector for a child safety seat used to secure the child safety seat to a motor vehicle wherein the connect comprises:

an elongate connector body having a latch means at one end for releasably securing the connector with respect of a motor vehicle seat, and a latch release means at the other end, wherein the latch release means is arranged to at least release the latch, the latch release means including a button that is manually operated to release the latch means, the button comprising a surface substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of the connector body;

one or more projections arranged around the button and extending past the surface of the button; and a webbing connector plate for attaching the connector to the child safety seat via a webbing, the webbing connector plate extending past the surface of the button, wherein the one or more projections and the webbing connector plate provide a barrier to inadvertent operation of the latch release means.

[0008] The one or more projections are arranged so as to provide a barrier against inadvertent operation of the latch release means. For example, in the case of a button that is depressed, the projection may comprise a peripheral or part peripheral flange that extends outwardly and beyond the surface of the button so as to present inadvertent operation of the button by some object depressing against the buttons surface

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] In order to fully understand the working principals of the invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described. However, it should be realised that the invention is not to be confined or restricted to the precise details of this preferred embodiment and that variations such as would be apparent to a skilled person are to be included within the scope of this invention.

[00010] This embodiment is illustrated in the following drawings in which,

Figures 1 and 2 show side views of a vehicle safety seat located on a motor vehicle seat and

2a

2014218407 13 Sep 2019 secured by connectors located on both sides of the safety seat. Figure 1 shows a safety seat in a forward facing position and Figure 2 shows a safety seat in a rearward facing position,

Figure 3 shows a side view of a connector in accordance with this invention,

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a connector in accordance with this invention, and Figures 5 to 7 show perspective views of alternative embodiments of the invention.

2014218407 20 Aug 2019

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [00011 ] Figures 1 and 2 show a child safety seat 10 located on a vehicle seat with the base of the safety seat 10 resting on the seat portion 12 of the vehicle seat. The back of the safety seat 10 abuts against the backrest 11 of the vehicle seat. Figure 1 shows the safety seat 10 in a forward facing direction whereas Figure 2 shows the safety seat 10 in a rearwardly facing direction. The configuration shown in Figure 1 will be more suited to older infants who are able to sit upright whereas the configuration shown in Figure 2 is suited to babies.

[00012] Part of the anchorage arrangement of securing the safety seat 10 with respect to the vehicle seat is an anchorage assembly 13. This anchorage assembly 13 comprises a connector 14, which in this embodiment is designed to connect to an Isofix vehicle anchorage point in the vehicle seat, which in turn is attached to the safety seat 10 via webbing 15 and a bracket 16. The bracket 16 is secured to the sidewall 17 of the safety seat 10 and has a webbing aperture 18 to which the webbing 15 is secured.

Finally, an adjuster 19 is incorporated within the webbing 15 to provide length adjustment to allow the connector 14 to attach to the Isofix anchorage point and at the same time to provide tension within the webbing once the connector 14 is latched to the Isofix connection.

[00013] In this embodiment, the Isofix connection point 20 in the vehicle seat comprises a horizontal anchorage bar and associated structure, which is located at the base of the backrest 11 and adjacent the seat portion 12. In this position, the Isofix anchorage point 20 can be positioned so as to not interfere with normal use of the vehicle seat while at the same time providing reasonably easy access for attachment of the connector 14.

[00014] The safety seat 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 use an anchorage assembly 13 on each side of the safety seat 10.

[00015] Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a connector 14 having a connector body 22 with a latch opening 23 at one end and a latch release means at the other end which comprises a button 24. The connector body 22 houses a latch mechanism part of which is exposed within the latch opening 23. Consistent with the description contained in the United States Patent No 6,962,394, the connector 14 is designed to engage the Isofix anchorage point 20 and to automatically latch. In order to open the latch, to thereby release the connector 14, the button 24 is depressed.

[00016] In order to prevent inadvertent operation of the button 24 a projection partly surrounds the button 24 in the form of a flange 25 that projects from adjacent the surface of the button 24 and that

2014218407 20 Aug 2019 has a rim that is spaced away from the surface of the button 24. The flange 25 surrounds three sides of the button 24 being the left and right side of the button 24 as well as the top of the button 24. The webbing connector plate 27 with its webbing opening 28 provides protection along the bottom edge of the button 24.

[00017] In this embodiment, the flange 25 extends beyond the surface of the button 24 by approximately 3 millimetres. In practice, this will assist in keeping any foreign object clear of the surface of the button 24 and thereby help in preventing inadvertent operation of the button 24. Similarly, where there is any rotation or movement of the connector 24 with respect of the Isofix anchorage 20 that might result in contact with, for example, the backrest 11 of the vehicle seat, the flange 25 will resist ingress of portions of the backrest 11 past the flange 25 and therefor assist in preventing inadvertent operation of the button 24.

[00018] In this way, the projection prevents inadvertent access to the surface of the button 24 thereby providing a means to prevent inadvertent operation of the button 24. The button 24 will still be accessible to be manually operated.

[00019] Figures 5 to 7 show variations of the flange 25. In Figure 5, the flange 25 is located at the top of the connector body 22 with the sides 30 of the connector body 22 adjacent the button 24 being relieved to expose side portions of the button 24. This will make the button 24 more visible from the side of the connector body 22 while the flange 25 protects inadvertent operation of the button 24 when the connector body 22 is rotated against the vehicle seat backrest 11.

[00020] Figures 6 and 7 show connectors 14 with the webbing connector plate 27 positioned on the side of the connector body 22 rather than on the base of the connector body 22 as shown in Figures 3 to 5. In Figure 6, the button 24 has a flange 25 at its upper and lower edge with the webbing connector plate 27 on one side. The connector body 22 has a relieved portion 30 that exposes the button 24 to view. In figure 7, the flange 25 extends around the top, one side and the bottom of the button 24. The webbing connector plate 27 protects the other side.

[00021 ] In the case of side located webbing connector plates 27, both a left and right hand connector 14 will be provided.

[00022] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words comprise and include and variations such as comprising and including will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integers or group of integers.

2014218407 20 Aug 2019 [00023] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that any prior art forms part of the common general knowledge of the relevant skilled addressee in this field.

[00024] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A connector for a child safety seat used to secure the child safety seat to a motor vehicle wherein the connector comprises:

an elongate connector body having a latch means at one end for releasably securing the connector with respect of a motor vehicle seat and a latch release means at the other end, wherein the latch release means is arranged to at least release the latch, the latch release means including a button that is manually operated to release the latch means, the button comprising a surface substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of the connector body;

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is adapted to attach to an Isofix connection fixture.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the projections are located on at least two sides of the button.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a flange positioned in at least two sides of the button.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a flange positioned in at least three sides of the button.

6. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more projections extend past the surface of the button by at least 3 millimetres.