Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02792321 2014-07-04
CHILD RESTRAINT HARNESS HAVING A CHEST CLIP DEVICE
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present inventions relate to child restraint harnesses provided
with chest
clips.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Child safety seats generally include an internal child
restraint harness. The
child restraint harness includes a chest clip used to keep the shoulder straps
in the correct
position on the shoulder of the child. A problem with the current chest clip
is that it may
not be able to accommodate children of different sizes. Therefore, there is a
need for a
chest clip that can be suitable for children of different sizes, and address
at least the
foregoing issues.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present application describes a child restraint harness having a
chest clip
device. Accordingly, there is provided a child restraint harness comprising:
first and
second shoulder straps; a first chest clip connector held with the first
shoulder strap and
having an engaging part; and a second chest clip connector held with the
second shoulder
strap and having a catch structure, the engaging part being selectively
engageable and
lockable with the catch structure at any of a first position to hold the first
and second
shoulder straps apart from each other at a first distance, and a second
position to hold the
first and second shoulder straps apart from each other at a second distance
greater than the
first distance.
CA 02792321 2014-07-04
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[0005a] There is also provided a chest clip device suitable for use
with a child
restraint harness, the chest clip device comprising: a first chest clip
connector having an
engaging part; and a second chest clip connector having a catch structure, the
engaging part
being selectively engageable and lockable with the catch structure at any of a
first and a
second position.
[0005b] There is also provided a chest clip device suitable for use
with a child
restraint harness, the chest clip device comprising: a first chest clip
connector having an
engaging part; and a second chest clip connector having a catch structure, the
first and
second chest clip connectors being movable along a displacement axis to lock
with each
to other, the catch structure defining at least a first and a second region
disposed along the
displacement axis, and the engaging part being selectively engageable with any
of the first
and second regions of the catch structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a
child restraint
harness;
[0007] Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the chest
clip device
attached in a first configuration;
[0008] Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the chest clip
device in a detached
state;
[0009] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the chest clip device;
[0010] Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the chest clip
device attached in a
second configuration.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a
child restraint
harness 100. The child restraint harness 100 may be provided on a child seat
102 having a
seat portion 104 and a seatback 106. Examples of the child seat 102 can
include child
safety seats installed in a vehicle for seating a child. The child restraint
harness 100 can
include waist straps 110A and 110B, a crotch strap 112, shoulder straps 114A
and 114B,
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and a fastening buckle 116 held with the crotch strap 112. In one embodiment,
the child
restraint harness 100 can implement a three-point attachment including two
fasteners 120A
and 120B operable to engage and lock with the buckle 116. The two fasteners
120A and
120B can include a right fastener 120A connected with the right waist strap
110A and the
right shoulder strap 114A, and a left fastener 120B connected with the left
waist strap 110B
and the left shoulder strap 114B. "Left" and "right" as used herein can refer
to the two
lateral sides of the child. In one embodiment, the right waist strap 110A and
the right
shoulder strap 114A can be formed from a same continuous web material that is
routed
through the right fastener 120A, and the left waist strap 110B and the left
shoulder strap
114B can be formed from another continuous web material that is routed through
the left
fastener 120B. Each of the fasteners 120A and 120B can include a tongue
portion adapted
to engage through the buckle 116. In addition, the child restraint harness 100
can include
a chest clip device 130 operable to properly position the two shoulder straps
114A and
114B.
[0012] In conjunction with Figure 1, Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view
illustrating the chest clip device 130, Figure 3 is a schematic view
illustrating the chest clip
device 130 in a detached state, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the
chest clip
device 130. The chest clip device 130 can include a first chest clip connector
132 held
with a first shoulder strap (e.g., the shoulder strap 114A), and a second
chest clip connector
134 held with a second shoulder strap (e.g., the shoulder strap 114B). It
would be
appreciated that the arrangement of the connectors 132 and 134 can be mutually
interchanged on the shoulder straps 114A and 114B. The chest clip connectors
132 and
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134 can engage and lock with each other at different positions so as to set a
desirable width
of the chest clip device 130 (i.e., a transversal distance between a first
point on the chest
clip connector 132 and an opposite point on the chest clip connector 134). The
multiple
positions for attaching the chest clip connectors 132 and 134 can allow to set
different
distances between the shoulder straps 114A and 114B. Each of the chest clip
connectors
132 and 134 can be provided with slots 136A and 136B through which the
associated
shoulder straps 114A and 114B can be routed vertically and held with the
connectors.
[0013] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the chest clip connector 132 can
include a tab
portion 140 having a recessed portion that forms a tongue 146. A proximal end
of the
lo recessed portion (i.e., closer to the slots 136 where the shoulder
straps 114A are routed) can
be defined by a sidewall 144. The tongue 146 can include a resilient engaging
part 148
that is connected with the tongue 146 near a distal end 146A of the tongue 146
(i.e., distal
from the shoulder straps 114A). The engaging part 148 can have a free end 148A
located
at a middle region of the tongue 146 between the sidewall 144 and the distal
end 146A of
the tongue 146. The free end 148A of the engaging part 148 can be provided
with a
protruding knob 149. The knob 149 can exemplary have a circular shape, but any
shapes
may be applicable. The chest clip connector 132 comprised of the tab portion
140, the
tongue 146, the engaging part 148 and the knob 149 can be formed integrally in
a single
body by plastics molding. The slots 136A can be formed at two sides of the tab
portion
140 through which the shoulder strap 114A can be routed to wrap around the tab
portion
140. Accordingly, the chest clip connector 132 can be movably adjusted along
the
shoulder strap 114A.
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[0014] The chest clip connector 134 can include a hollow interior
forming an insert
slot 150 in which the tongue 146 of the chest clip connector 132 can insert
along a
displacement axis X. The chest clip connector 134 can be formed with a catch
structure
152 with which the engaging part 148 can engage and lock at different
positions. The
catch structure 152 can extend as a sidewall of the insert slot 150, and
include two openings
156 and 158 distributed along the axis X and communicating with the insert
slot 150. The
shape of the openings 156 and 158 can be configured to complementary mate with
that of
the knob 149, such as a circular shape as shown. However, any other shapes may
be
suitable. The openings 156 and 158 are shown sideways connected with each
other along
the axis X, ridges 160 being interposed between the openings 156 and 158. In
alternate
embodiments, the openings 156 and 158 may also be entirely disconnected from
each other.
The chest clip connector 134 comprised of the catch structure 152 can be
formed integrally
in a single body by plastics molding.
[0015] Exemplary operation of the chest clip device 130 is described
hereafter with
reference to Figures 1-5. After the child is attached with the child restraint
harness 100,
the chest clip connectors 132 and 134 can be vertically adjusted to a suitable
height
approximately corresponding to the level of the child's armpits. The tongue
146 of the
chest clip connector 132 then can be inserted along the axis X into the insert
slot 150 of the
chest clip connector 134 until the knob 149 engages and locks with any of the
openings 156
and 158 by elastic deflection of the engaging part 148 in a direction
substantially
perpendicular to the axis X.
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[0016] For example, should the child have a smaller body, the tongue
146 can be
inserted into the insert slot 150 until the knob 149 engages and locks with
the opening 156
of the catch structure 152 and the catch structure 152 abuts against or is
positioned
substantially adjacent to the sidewall 144. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the
locking
engagement of the chest clip connector 132 at this first position of the chest
clip connector
134 can allow the chest clip device 130 to hold the two shoulder straps 114A
and 114B
apart from each other at a narrower first distance Dl. In the embodiment where
the
openings 156 and 158 are sideways connected with each other, the ridges 160
can retain the
knob 149 engaged with the opening 156 and prevent it from moving into the
opening 158.
[0017] Should the child have a larger body, the knob 149 can engage and
lock with
the opening 158 of the catch structure 152 such that the catch structure 152
is positioned
farther away from the sidewall 144. As shown in Figure 5, the locking
engagement of the
chest clip connector 132 at this second position of the chest clip connector
134 can allow
the chest clip device 130 to hold the two shoulder straps 114A and 114B apart
from each
other at a distance D2 greater than the distance Dl.
[0018] Referring to Figure 4, an end of the insert slot 150 may form
a narrow
passage 162 that has at least a dimension (e.g., height) smaller than the
insert slot 150.
The length of the tongue 146 may be such that the distal end 146A of the
tongue 146 can
remain engaged in the passage 162 regardless of whether the knob 149 is locked
with any
of the openings 156 and 158. Since the connector 132 can engage with the
connector 134
through at least two spaced-apart locations, i.e., engagement of the distal
end 146A with the
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passage 162 and engagement of the knob 149 with the catch structure 152,
secure
attachment of the chest clip device 130 can be provided.
[0019] To unlock the chest clip device 130, the knob 149 exposed
through the
opening 156 or 158 can be depressed so as to disengage from the opening 156 or
158.
Being unlocked, the chest clip connector 132 then can be removed from the
chest clip
connector 134, or adjusted to set a desirable distance between the shoulder
straps 114A and
114B.
[0020] It is appreciated that modifications of the principles of
design described
herein may be possible. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the
engaging part
148 is exemplary shown as deflecting back and forth to engage and disengage
the catch
structure 152. In alternate embodiments, the engaging part and the catch
structure may be
disposed such that the engaging part can deflect vertically up and down to
engage and
disengage the catch structure. This may be achieved by changing the engaging
part and
the catch structure to an up/down relationship, which may be arranged at an
upper and/or
lower location of the connectors 132 and 134.
[0021] At least one advantage of the child restraint harness
described herein is the
ability to provide a chest clip device 130 that can be able to hold the
shoulder straps 114A
and 114B apart from each other at different distances according to the size of
the child.
[0022] Realizations of the child restraint harness 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.
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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.
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