GB2497844A

GB2497844A - Child seat having an anchoring harness

Info

Publication number: GB2497844A
Application number: GB1221541.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin-Ming Cheng; Yu-Ya Su; Guang-Hui Zhao; Nangui Bu
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2012-11-30
Publication date: 2013-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-30
Also published as: GB2497844B

Abstract

A child seat having an anchoring harness 16 that can attach with an external anchorage fixture, such as the anchorage fixture provided in a vehicle. The child seat comprises a seat portion 12 and an anchoring harness 16. The seat portion has a lower surface 12B, an upper surface 12A for providing sitting support, and a rear edge 12C defining a rear border of the lower and upper surfaces. The seat portion includes two openings 18 transversally spaced apart from each other by a material portion 12F. The openings and the material portion are adjacent to the rear edge, and the openings extend through the seat portion, and respectively open on the lower and upper surfaces. The anchoring harness includes a fastener 162 operable to attach with an external anchorage fixture for holding the child seat in place. The anchoring harness is routed substantially vertically through the two openings and forms a loop folding around the material portion.

Description

CHILD SEAT RAVING AN ANCHORING HARNESS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[00011 This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application 110.

61/548,736 filed on October 19, 2011, China patent application no. 201110427937.3 filed on December 19, 2011, and U.S. provisional application no. 61/580,250 filed on December 26, 2011.

BACKGROUND

[00021 1. Field of the Invention

[00031 The present inventions relate to child seats provided with anchoring harnesses.

100041 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Conventionally, an automobile vehicle has seatbelts provided at the front and rear seats. The seatbelt generally includes shoulder and lap straps that may be fastened with an anchor point of the vehicle to restrain and protect the occupant in case of collision or sudden stop of the vehicle. However, the use of the vehicle seatbclt is not adapted for a young child who has a smaller body and may not be able to sustain the pressure applied by the seatbelt. As a result, safety legislations require the use of a child safety scat for seating a young child in a vehicle. The scatbclt of the vehicle can be used to hold the child safety seat in place, whereas the child safety scat has an internal child restraint harness more adapted to provide protection for the young child.

[0006] For a child of higher age, the size of the child safety seat may not be adapted to the child having a larger body. In this case, a booster seat may be used to increase the height at which the child sits, and the seatbclt of the vehicle can be used to properly restrain the child. Unlike the child safety seat, the booster seat is usually placed on the vehicle passenger's seat without attachment. When collision occurs, the booster seat may be subject to displacement, which may adversely affect the resnining protection provided by the seatbelt.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a child seat that can be securely held in place when installed in a vehicle, and address at least the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY

100081 The present application describes child seats having anchoring harnesses that can attach with an external anchorage fixture, such as the anchorage fixture provided in a vehicle. In some embodiments, the child seat comprises a scat portion and an anchoring harness assembled with the fastener. The seat portion has a lower surface, an upper surface for providing sitting support, and a rear edge defining a rear border of the lower and upper surfaces, the seat portion including two openings transversally spaced apart from each other by a material portion, the openings and the material portion being adjacent to the rear edge. The openings extend through the seat portion from an underside to an upper side, and respectively open on the lower and upper surfaces. The anchoring harness includes a fastener operalMe to attach with an external anchorage fixture for holding the child scat in place, wherein the anchoring harness is routed through the two openings and forms a ioop folding around the material portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100091 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seat provided with an anchoring harness; 100101 Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a variant embodiment of a child seat provided with an anchoring harness; [0011] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating another variant embodiment of a child seat provided with an anchoring harness; 100121 Figures 4A and 4B are respectively top and enlarged views illustrating another variant embodiment of a child seat provided with an anchoring harness; 100131 Figures 5A and SB are respectively perspective and enlarged views illustrating another embodiment of a child seat provided with an anchoring harness; 100141 Figures 5C and 3D arc schematic cross-sectional views illustrating more details of a length adjustment device used in the anchoring harness shown in Figures 5A and SB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

100151 The present application describes child seats having anchorillg harnesses.

Embodiments of the child seat include a seat portion, and an anchoring harness including a fastener operable to attach with an external anchorage fixture for holding the child scat in place. The seat portion has a lower surface, an upper surface for providing siting support, and a rear edge defining a rear border of the lower and upper surfaces. The anchoring harness can be attached with the scat shell at a location near j thc rear edge of the scat shell. In particular, the scat portion can include tsu openings transversally spaced apart from each other by a material portion, the openings and the material portion being adjacent to the rear edge. The anchoring harness can be routed substantially vertical through the two openings and forms a loop folding around the material portion. When it is tensioned, the anchoring harness can apply a force that can push the child scat downward against the vehicle passenger's scat for stable installation.

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seat 1. The child seat 1 has no backrest, and can be used as a booster seat. The child seat 1 can include a seat portion 12, two armrests 14 and an anchoring harncss 16. The seat portion 12 can have an upper surface 12A on which a child can sit, and a lower surface I 2B opposite to the upper surface 12A that can rest in contact on a support surface (e.g., the upper support surface of a vehicle passenger's seat), The seat portion 12 can also have a rear edge 12C and left and right outer side surfaces 12L and 12R that define at least partially the outer side contour of the scat portion 12. The rear edge I 2C can correspond to a back side of a child, and can define a rear border of the upper surface 12A and the lower surface 12B. The left and right outer side surfaces 12L and 12R can be respectively flanked at the left and right sides of the upper surface 12A. The scat portion 12 may be formed in a single body, and the lower surface 12B may form a substantially planar bottom surface for facilitating resting of the child seat I on a support surface.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the seat portion 12 can also be provided with two openings 18 that may be transversally spaced apart from each other in a region between thc armrests 14 and adjacent to the rear edge 12C. A material portion 12F of the seat shell 12 can be interposed between the two openings 18. Each of the openings 18 can extend substantially vertical through the seat portion 1 2 from its underside to its upper side, and respectively open on the upper surface I 2A and the lower surface 12B.

Moreover, each opening 18 can also have a bar segment 19 that extends transversally adjaccnt to the opening 18. The bar segment 19 may be formed integrally with the seat portion 12, or assembled therewith. The two openings 18, bars 19 and material portion 12F can bc respectively located between the arnirests 14, and are exposed outward.

100181 The armsests 14 can protrude above the upper surface 12A adjacent to the left and right outer side surfaces 12L and 12R, and extend to near the rear edge 12C.

In some embodiments, the armrests 14 may be formed integral with the seat portion 12.

In other embodiments, the armrcsts 14 may be detachably assembled with the seat portion 12.

[0019] The anchoring harness 16 can be assembled with the seat portion 12 near the rear edge 12C by routing through the openings 18. The anchoring harness 16 can include two fasteners 162 and a strap 164. In some embodiments, the fasteners 162 may be formed with a hook shape adapted to aftach with an external anchorage fixture (e.g., ring fixture) provided in the vehicle for holding the child seat 1 in place. In other embod[ments, the fasteners 1 62 may take any forms adapted to engage with the anchorage fixture.

100201 The strap 164 can be made of one or more piece of webbing material.

In some embodiments, the strap 164 can also include strap portions 1642 made of resilient materials that can elastically stretch and retract. The strap 164 can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the fasteners 162. For example, the strap portions 1642 may be provided at two opposite ends of the strap 164 and assembled with the fasteners 162. The strap 164 can be routed through one opening 18 from the underside to the upper side of the seat portion 12, wrap around an upper side of the material portion 12F, and pass through the other opening 18 from the upper side to the underside of the scat portion 12. An intermediate portion of the strap 164 can accordingly form a loop 1644 wrapping above the material portion 12F.

[0021] For assembling the anchoring harness 16 with the seat portion 12, the two fasteners 162 and the ends of the strap 164 attached therewith can be respectively routed through the two openings 18 from the upper side to the underside of the seat portion 12, and then pulled rearward until the loop 1644 wraps around and contacts with an upper surface of the material portion I 2F between the two openings 1 8. Once installed, the strap 164 can slide through the two openings 18 for adjusting the length of the two strap segments of the anchoring harness 16 extending rearward from the two openings 18. Once the strap 164 is set to the desirable length, the intermediate portion of the strap 164 corresponding to the ioop 1644 rnay be adhered with the material portion 12F, e.g., via hook and loop fasteners 1646.

100221 In some variant embodiments, the two fasteners 162 and the ends of the strap 164 attached therewith may also be respectively routed through the two openings 18 from the lower side to the upper side of the seat portion 12, and then pulled rearward until the loop 1644 wraps around and contacts with a lower surface of the material portion I 2F. This wrapping method can likewise allow to easily assemble adjust the anchoring harness 16 with respect to the seat portion 12.

[0023] When it is installed in a vehicle, the child seat 1 can be place such that the rear edge I 2C faces the rear of the vehicle, and the fasteners 1 62 can be attached with the anchorage fixture (e.g., ring fixture) of the vehicle for holding the child seat 1 in place. When it is tensioned, the anchoring harness 16 can apply a downward force on the material portion 12F that can push the child seat 1 against the vehicle passengers seat for stable installation.

100241 Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a variant embodiment of the child seat 1. The child seat 1 can include a seat portion 12, two armrests 14 and an anchoring harness 26. The seat portion 12 and the armrest 14 may be similar in construction to the embodiment described previously.

[00251 The anchoring harness 26 can be likewise assembled with the seat portion 12 near the rear edge I 2C by routing through the openings 18. The anchoring harness 26 can include two fasteners 262 and a strap 264. The strap 264 can be made of one or more piece of webbing material, and include strap portions 2642 made of resilient materials that can elastically stretch and retract. The strap 264 can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the fasteners 262. The strap 264 can be routed through one opening 18 from the underside to the upper side of the seat portion 12, wrap around an upper side of the material portion i2F, and pass through the other opening 18 from the upper side to the underside of the seat portion 12. An intermediate portion of the strap 264 can accordingly form a loop 2644 wrapping above the material portion 1 2F between the two openings 18.

[0026] In this embodiment, the anchoring harness 26 can also include a length adjustment device 266 through which the strap 164 is routed. In one embodiment, the length adjustment device 266 can be a three-bar adjustment buckle through which the strap 164 can wrap. Once the anchoring harness 26 is assembled with the seat portion 12, the length adjustment device 266 can be disposed in the region of the loop 2644 located between the two openings 18, and can move along with the anchoring harness 26 during adjustment.. The length adjustment device 266 can allow to adjust the lengths of the two strap segments extending rearward from the seat portion 12. In addition, the length adjustment device 266 can operate as an obstruction that can abut against the region of the seat portion 12 surrounding the openings 18. With this arrangement, the length adjustment device 266 can limit the range of displacement of the strap 264 through the openings 18 to prevent complete disengagement of the anchoring harness 26 when, for example, one of the two fasteners 262 is excessively pulled.

[0027] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating another variant embodiment of the child seat 1. The child seat 1 can include a seat portion 12, two armrests 14 and an anchoring harness 36. The seat portion 12 and the armrest 14 may be as described previously.

[00281 The anchoring harness 36 can be likewise assembled with the seat portion 12 near the rear edge 12C by routing through the openings 18. The anchoring harness 36 can include two fasteners 362, a strap 364 and a length adjustment device 366. The strap 364 can be made of one or more piece of webbing material. The strap 364 can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the fasteners 362.

[0029] The length adjustment device 366 can be constructed as a clamping device including a base 3662 and a clamping member 3664 pivotally connected with the

S

base 3662. The base 3662 can include two sidewalls 3662A between which the clamping member 3664 is assembled facing a bottom of the base 3662.

[00301 The strap 364 can assemble with one fastener 362 at one end, be routed through the length adjustment device 366 between the base 3662 and the clamping member 3664, assemble with the other fastener 362, fold back and then pass again through the length adjustment device 366, and form a distal end 3642 extending outward from the length adjustment device 366. The clamping member 3664 can be spring-biased to clamp the two folded segments of the strap 364 against the base 3662 to block displacement of the strap 364 through the length adjustment device 366.

100311 The clamping member 3664 can be actuated to unclamp the strap 364 for adjusting the length of the two strap segment 364A and 364B at the two sides of the length adjustment device 366. For example, the distal end 3642 can be pulled to shorten the length of the two strap segments 364A and 364B, or the strap segment 364A can be pulled to increase the length of the segments 354A and 364B.

[0032] The assembly of the anchoring harness 36 can be similar to the previous embodiment. For example, the two fasteners 362 and the two strap segments 364A and 364B can be respectively routed through the two openings 18 from the upper side to the underside of the seat portion 12 so that the strap 364 can form a loop 3644 which wraps around and contacts with the material portion 12F between the two openings 18.

The length adjustment device 366 can lie in the region of the loop 3644 located between the two openings 18, and caii move along with the anchoring harness 36 during adjustment. With this arrangement, the length adjustment device 366 can limit the range of displacement of the strap 364 through the openings 18 to prevent complete discngagement of the anchoring harness 36 whcn, ibr exanwle, one of the two flisteners 362 is excessively pulled.

[00331 Figures 4A and 4B are respectively top and enlarged views illustrating another variant embodiment of a child scat 1. The child scat 1 can include a scat portion 12, two annrests 14 and an anchoring harness 46. The seat portion 12 and the armrest 14y be as described previously.

LOOM] The anchoring harness 46 can be likewise assembled with the scat portion 12 near the rear edge 12C by routing through the openings 18. The anchoring harness 46 can include two flisteners 462, a first strap segment 464 and a second strap Jo segment 466, and two connectors 461 and 468. The first strap segment 464 can include a first portion 464A and a second portion 4MB. The first portion 4MA can be made of a resilient material that can elastically delbrm to stretch and retract fin modif'ing the length of the first strap segment 464. The first portion 464A can have a first end connected with one lIstener 462, and a second end connected with the second portion 4MB. The second portion 4MB can be made of a webbing material, and an end of the second portion 4MB opposite to that connected with the first portion 4MA can be connected with the connector 468.

[00351 Likewise, the second strap segment 466 can include a first portion 466A and a second portion 466B. The first portion 466A can be made of a resilient material that can elastically delbrm to stretch and retract lbr modiIiing the length of the second strap segment 466. The first portion 466A can have a first end connected with the other fastener 462, and a second end connected with the second portion 466ff The second portion 466B can be made of a webbing material, and an end of the second portion 466B opposite to that connected with the first portion 466A can be connected with the connector 461.

[00361 For installing the anchoring harness 46 with the seat portion 12, the first and second strap segment 464 and 466 can be respectivcly routed through the two openings 18 from the underside to the upper side of the seat portion 12, such that the two connectors 461 and 468 can tic above the material portion 12F. The connectors 461 and 468 then can be engaged with each other so as to form a ioop 46A that wraps around and contacts with the material portion 12F between the two openings 18.

[00371 When the child seat 1 is to be removed, the connectors 461 and 468 can Jo be disengaged from each other so as to disconnect the first and second strap segments 464 and 466. Accordingly, the first and second strap segments 464 and 466 can be separated from the seat portion 12 for removing the child seat 1. 01 course, it may also be possible to remove the child seat 1 from the vehicle passenger's seat by detaching the fasteners 462 from the anchorage fixture of the vehicle.

[0038] Figures 5A and SB are respectively perspective and enlarged views itlustrating another embodiment of a child seat 1. The child scat I can include a scat portion 12, two armrcsts 14 and an anchoring harness 56. The seat portion 12 and the armrest 14 may be as described previousty.

[0039] The anchoring harness 56 can be likewise assembled with the scat portion 12 near the rear edge 12C by routing through the openings 18. The anchoring harness 56 can include two fasteners 562, a strap 564 and a tcngth adjustment device 566. The strap 564 can be made of one or more piece of webbing matcriat. The strap 564 can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the fasteners 562.

[0040] The length adjustment device 566 can be fixedly secured with the seat portion 12. As shown, the length adjustment device 566 can include a frame 5660, and two buttons 5664. The frame 5660 can bc affixed with the scat portion 12 at a position between the two openings 18. The seat portion 12 and the frame 5660 can be viewed as a unitary block. The frame 5660 can have two sets of openings 5662 transversally spaced apart from each other by a material portion 5660F, each set including two openings 5662 respectively disposed at upper and lower surfaces of the frame 5660.

[0041] Figures SC and 5D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating more details of the length adjustment device 566. The two buttons 5664 can be assembled through the frame 5660 respectively adjacent to the two sets of openings 5662, and can move along the transversal axis of the frame 5660. A spring 5666 can be assembled in the frame 5660 between the two buttons 5664, two opposite ends of the spring 5666 being respectively connected with the buttons 5664. Each button 5664 can include two holes 5668 respectively provided at two opposite regions of the button 5664.

When the buttons 5664 are assembled with the frame 5660, the holes 5668 of each button 5664 can be located adjacent one set of openings 5662. The two buttons 5664 can be movable relative to the frame 5660 so that the holes 5668 can be respectively aligned or misaligned with respect to the two sets of openings 5662.

100421 The strap 564 can be routed through the openings 18, the openings 5662 of the frame 5660 and the holes 5668 of the buttons 5664 so that an intermediate portion of the strap 564 can form a loop 5642 folding around the material portion 12F (e.g., from the upper side) between the two openings 18.

[0043] It is noted that some variant methods for routing the strap 564 may be possible. For example, the strap 564 may also be routed through the openings 5662 of the frame 5660 and the holes 5668 of the buttons 5664, and remain outside the openings 18.

[0044] Referring to Figures SC and SD, the length adjustment device 566 can be operable to adjust the strap 564. As shown in Figure SC, the spring 5666 can oppositely bias the buttons 5664 toward an outside of the frame 5660 so that the holes 5668 of each button 5664 are misaligned with one corresponding set of the openings 5662. As a result, the strap 564 can be tightly clamped between the rims of the holes 5668 and the openings 5662 at two spaced-apart locations of the frame 5660, which blocks sliding of the strap 564 through the length adjustment device 566. The two strap segments 564A extending at the rear of the seat portion 12 can be thereby fixed in length.

[0045] Referring to Figure SD, the buttons 5664 can be pressed to move toward each other to compress the spring 5666. As the buttons 5664 move relative to the frame 5660, the holes 5668 of each button 5664 can become substantially aligned with one corresponding set of the openings 5662 of the frame 5660 to unclamp the strap 564.

Then the strap 564 can slide through the buttons 5664 and thc frame 5660 for adjusting the lengths of the two strap segments 564A. For example, the length of the loop 5642 can be increased when the two strap segments 564A are shortened, and shortened when the two strap segments 564A are in increased in length.

[0046] Examples of the child seats described herein can have different construction of anchoring harnesses that can attach with an anchorage fixture of a vehicle. The anchoring harnesses can be easily assembled with the seat portion of the child seat, and adjustable in length for facilitating its attachment with the anchorage fixture. The length adjustment device of the anchoring harness can be placed at an upper side of the seat portion that is visible and easily accessible for operation. Once the anchoring harness is attached with the anchorage fixture of the vehicle, the hold of the child seat relative to the vehicle passenger's seat can be adjusted via the length adjustment device to be more or less tight. Moreover, the wrapping of the anchoring hamess is such that when it is tensioned, the anchoring harness can apply a downward force that can push the child seat downward against the vehicle passenger's scat for

stable installation.

100471 Realizations of the child seats have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.

Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.

These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

<claim-text>WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A child seat comprising: a seat portion having a lower surface, an upper surface opposite to the lower surface for providing sitting support, and a rear edge defining a rear border of the lower and upper surfaces, the seat portion including two openings transversally spaced apart from each other by a material portion, the openings and the material portion being adjacent to the rear edge, and the openings extending through the seat portion from an underside to an upper side and respectively open on the lower and upper surfaces; and an anchoring harness including a fastcncr operable to attach with an external anchorage fixture for holding the child seat in place; wherein the anchoring harness is routed substantially vertical through the two openings and forms a loop folding around the material portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The child seat according to claim I, wherein the anchoring harness includes a strap that is routed through the two openings and forms the ioop wrapping around the material portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The child seat according to claim 2, wherein the strap is routed through a length adjustment device disposed in the region of the loop.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The child seat according to claim 3, wherein the length adjustment device includes a three-bar adjustment buckle.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The child scat according to claim 3, wherein the length adjustment device includes a base, and a clamping part pivotally connected with the base, and the strap is routed through the length adjustment device between the base and the clamping part.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The child seat according to claim 3, wherein the length adjustment device includes a frame affixed with the seat portion, and two buftons assembled with the frame and spring-biased to clamp the strap.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The child seat according to claim 6, wherein the strap is routed through the frame and the buttons and forms the loop around the frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The child seat according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the buttons include a plurality of holes, the frame includes a plurality of second openings, and the strap is routed through the holes and the second openings.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The child seat according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the two buttons are spring-biased to cause the holes and the second openings to misalign from one another for clamping the strap.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The child seat according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the two buttons are depressed to move toward each other to align the holes with the second openings for allowing sliding of the strap through the frame and the two buttons.</claim-text> <claim-text>II. The child seat according to claim I or 2, wherein the anchoring harness includes two strap segments respectively provided with connectors adapted to detachably engage with each other, the strap segments being respectively routed through the two openings, and thc connectors engaging with each other in the region between the two openings to attach the two strap segments with each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchoring harness includes a portion made of a resilient material elastically deformable.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The child seat according to claim 12, wherein the portion made of the resilient material elastically deformable is connected with the fastener.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the ioop extends at an upper side of the material portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A child seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>