Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Title
CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND RELATED TETHER ASSEMBLY
Cross Reference To Related Applications
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/860,398, filed on 06/12/2019, and the entire
contents of this application are hereby incorporated by reference.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a child product, and more
particularly to a child safety seat and a tether assembly thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0003] With development of the economy and advancement of the
technology, there are more and more consumer goods for bringing
convenience in people's life. A child safety seat is one of the
consumer goods. The child safety seat includes a top tether with
a hook to secure the child safety seat in a vehicle for reducing
a forward movement of the child safety seat in a crash of the
vehicle. The top tether can be attached onto a seat body or a base.
When it is desired to attach the top tether onto the base, it
requires the base to be tall to provide adequate crash performance.
However, the tall base could bring a disadvantage in overall
aesthetics of the child car seat and a higher center of gravity.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to
provide a child safety seat and a tether assembly thereof for
solving the aforementioned problem.
[0005] In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the
present invention discloses a child safety seat. The child safety
seat includes a base, a seat body and a tether assembly. The base
is installed on a seat of a vehicle. The seat body is movably,
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detachably, or fixedly disposed on the base and for accommodating
a child. The tether assembly is for securing the base on the seat
of the vehicle. The tether assembly includes a tether driving
component, a tether anchor and a tether strap. The tether driving
component is movably disposed on the base. The tether driving
component is extendable relative to the base to a used position
and retractable relative to the base to a stored position. The
used position is higher than the stored position along a vertical
direction. The tether anchor is for engaging with the vehicle. The
tether strap is connected to the tether anchor and one of the base
and the tether driving component.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
base is formed in an L-shaped structure and includes a first
portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second
portion respectively abut against a seatback and a seat pan of the
seat of the vehicle, and the tether driving component is movably
disposed on the first portion of the base.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an
accommodating chamber is formed inside the first portion of the
base. An accommodating recess is formed on an upper periphery on
the first portion of the base, and the tether driving component is
partially received inside the accommodating chamber and partially
exposed out of the accommodating recess.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a handle part connected to the
tether strap and at least one moving part connected to the handle
part. The handle part is exposed out of the accommodating recess.
The at least one moving part is at least partially received inside
the accommodating chamber and slidable relative to the first
portion. A shape of the handle part of tether driving component
matches with a shape of the accommodating recess. The handle part
covers the accommodating recess when the tether driving component
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is located at the stored position, and the handle part separates
from the accommodating recess when the tether driving component is
located at the used position.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
recess is formed on an outer side of the first portion of the base
for accommodating the tether anchor.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
base further includes at least one lower anchor disposed on a
connection of the first portion and the second portion.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component is slidably or pivotally disposed on the
base.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether assembly further includes a releasing mechanism for
allowing and restraining a sliding movement or a pivoting movement
of the tether driving component relative to the base.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a handle part connected to the
tether strap and at least one moving part connected to the handle
part and slidably or pivotally disposed on the base.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a telescopic part and a handle
part. The telescopic part includes a plurality of telescopic
portions movably connected to each other in a telescopic manner,
and the handle part is connected to the tether strap and one of
the plurality of the telescopic portions away from the base.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether strap is extendable and retractable relative to the tether
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driving component.
[0016] In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the
present invention further includes a tether assembly for securing
a base of a child safety seat installed on a seat of a vehicle.
The tether assembly includes a tether driving component, a tether
anchor and a tether strap. The tether driving component is movably
disposed on the base. The tether driving component is extendable
relative to the base to a used position and retractable relative
to the base to a stored position. The used position is higher than
the stored position along a vertical direction. The tether anchor
is for engaging with the vehicle. The tether strap is connected to
the tether anchor and one of the base and the tether driving
component.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component is movably disposed on a first portion of
the base abutting against a seatback of the seat of the vehicle.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component is partially received inside an
accommodating chamber formed inside the base and partially exposed
out of an accommodating recess formed on an upper periphery of the
base.
[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a handle part connected to the
tether strap and at least one moving part connected to the handle
part. The handle part is exposed out of the accommodating recess.
The at least one moving part is at least partially received inside
the accommodating chamber and slidable relative to the first
portion. A shape of the handle part of tether driving component
matches with a shape of the accommodating recess. The handle part
covers the accommodating recess when the tether driving component
is located at the stored position, and the handle part separates
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from the accommodating recess when the tether driving component is
located at the used position.
[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component is slidably or pivotally disposed on the
base.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether assembly further includes a releasing mechanism for
allowing and restraining a sliding movement or a pivoting movement
of the tether driving component relative to the base.
[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a handle part connected to the
tether strap and at least one moving part connected to the handle
part and slidably or pivotally disposed on the base.
[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether driving component includes a telescopic part and a handle
part. The telescopic part includes a plurality of telescopic
portions movably connected to each other in a telescopic manner,
and the handle part is connected to the tether strap and one of
the plurality of the telescopic portions away from the base.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
tether strap is extendable and retractable relative to the tether
driving component.
[0025] In summary, in the present invention, the tether driving
component is extendable and retractable relative to the base
between the used position and the stored position. Therefore, the
present invention achieves an aesthetic design of the base and
maintains a lower profile and a lower center of gravity while
providing a proper height adjustment for crash performance.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-11
[0026] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a child safety seat as a
tether assembly is in a used state according to a first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a partial diagram of the child safety seat as the
tether assembly is in a stored state according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a partial internal structural diagram of the child
safety seat shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a partial internal structural diagram of the child
safety seat shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a seat body according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a partial internal structural diagram of the seat
body according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a child safety seat
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a partial internal structural diagram of the child
safety seat shown in FIG. 7 according to the second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a partial lateral view diagram of a child safety
seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
[0036] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In
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this regard, directional terminology, such as "top," "bottom,"
"front," "back," etc., is used with reference to the orientation
of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present
invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations.
As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of
illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings
and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and
not as restrictive. Also, the term "couple" is intended to mean
either an indirect or direct electrical/mechanical connection.
Thus, if a first device is coupled to a second device, that
connection may be through a direct electrical/mechanical
connection, or through an indirect electrical/mechanical
connection via other devices and connections.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. FIG. 1 is a schematic
diagram of a child safety seat 1 as a tether assembly 13 is in a
used state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial diagram of the child safety seat 1 as the
tether assembly 13 is in a stored state according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial internal
structural diagram of the child safety seat 1 shown in FIG. 1
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
4 is a partial internal structural diagram of the child safety
seat 1 shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the child safety
seat 1 includes a base 11, a seat body 12 and the tether assembly
13. The base 11 is installed on a seat of a vehicle, which is not
shown in the figures. The seat body 12 is movably and detachably
disposed on the base 11 and for accommodating a child. Preferably,
in this embodiment, the seat body 12 can be installed on the base
11 in a rotatable and detachable manner, and the seat body 12 can
be rotated relative to the base 11 between a front-facing position
and a rear-facing position when the seat body 12 is installed on
the base 11. The tether assembly 13 is for securing the base 11 on
the seat of the vehicle. The tether assembly 13 includes a tether
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driving component 131, a tether anchor 132 and a tether strap 133.
The tether driving component 131 is movably disposed on the base
11. The tether driving component 131 is extendable relative to the
base 11 to a used position, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, and
retractable relative to the base 11 to a stored position, as shown
in FIG 2 and FIG. 4. The used position is higher than the stored
position along a vertical direction V. The tether anchor 132 is
for engaging with the vehicle, e.g., a top attachment disposed on
the vehicle. The tether strap 133 is connected to the tether anchor
132 and the tether driving component 131 and is extendable and
retractable relative to the tether driving component 131.
[0038] However, the present invention is not limited to this
embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the seat body can
be fixed onto the base, i.e., the seat body is not removable and
not rotatable relative to the base. Alternatively, in another
embodiment, the seat body can be slidably disposed on the base and
not detachable from the base, and a reclining angle of the seat
body relative to the base can be adjusted by a sliding movement of
the seat body and the base. Alternatively, in another embodiment,
the tether strap can be connected to the tether anchor and the
base and routed through the tether driving component.
[0039] Specifically, the base 11 is formed in an L-shaped structure
and includes a first portion 111 and a second portion 112. The
first portion 111 and the second portion 112 respectively abut
against a seatback and a seat pan of the seat of the vehicle, and
the tether driving component 131 is movably disposed on the first
portion 111 of the base 11. An accommodating chamber 113 is formed
inside the first portion 111 of the base 11. An accommodating
recess 114 is formed on an upper periphery on the first portion
111 of the base 11, and the tether driving component 131 is
partially received inside the accommodating chamber 113 and
partially exposed out of the accommodating recess 114.
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[0040] Preferably, in this embodiment, two guiding tracks 115 can
be formed on the first portion 111 of the base 11 and located
inside the accommodating chamber 113. The tether driving component
131 can include a handle part 1311 connected to the tether strap
133, and the tether driving component 131 can further include two
moving parts 1312 connected to the handle part 1311. The handle
part 1311 can be exposed out of the accommodating recess 114, and
a user can grasp the handle part 1311 to pull or push the two
moving parts 1312. The two moving parts 1312 can be respectively
at least partially inserted inside the two guiding tracks 115 and
slidable relative to the two guiding tracks 115, i.e., the two
moving parts 1312 can be at least partially received inside the
accommodating chamber 113 and slidable relative to the first
portion 111. A shape of the handle part 1311 of the tether driving
component 131 can match with a shape of the accommodating recess
114. The handle part 1311 can cover the accommodating recess 114
when the tether driving component 131 is located at the stored
position as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, and the handle part 1311
can separate from the accommodating recess 114 when the tether
driving component 131 is located at the used position as shown in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. However, the present invention is not limited
to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can
be only one guiding track and one moving part at least partially
inserted into the guiding track and slidable relative to the
guiding track.
[0041] Besides, the tether assembly 13 can further include a
releasing mechanism 134 for allowing and restraining a sliding
movement of the tether driving component 131 relative to the base
11. The releasing mechanism 134 can include an operating component
1341, two engaging components 1342, two linking components, two
recovering components and two engaging portions 1343. Each
engaging components 1342 can be an engaging protrusion or an
engaging recess, and each engaging portions 1343 can be an engaging
recess or an engaging protrusion, accordingly. The operating
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component 1341 is movably disposed on the handle part 1311 of the
tether driving component 131. The two engaging components 1342 are
respectively movably disposed on the two moving parts 1312. The
two engaging portions 1343 are respectively formed on the two
guiding tracks 115. Each linking component is connected to the
corresponding engaging component 1342 and the operating component
1341. Each recovering component is for biasing the corresponding
engaging component 1342 to engage with the corresponding engaging
portion 1343. The operating component 1341 drives the two engaging
components 1342 to respectively disengage from the two engaging
portions 1343 for allowing a sliding movement of the two moving
parts 1312 relative to the two guiding tracks 115 to allow the
sliding movement of the tether driving component 131 relative to
the base 11 when the operating component 1341 is operated. The two
recovering components drives the two engaging components 1342
respectively to engage with the two engaging portions 1343 for
restraining the sliding movement of the two moving parts 1312
relative to the two guiding tracks 115 to restrain the sliding
movement of the tether driving component 131 relative to the base
11 when the operating component 1341 is released. However, the
releasing mechanism is not limited to this embodiment. For example,
in another embodiment, the releasing mechanism can be omitted,
i.e., the sliding movement of the tether driving component can be
restrained by static friction between each of the moving part and
the corresponding guiding track.
[0042] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in order to
prevent any interference caused by the loosing tether assembly 13,
a recess 116 can be formed on an outer side of the first portion
111 of the base 11 for accommodating the tether anchor 132, and a
fixing lug 117 can be formed inside the recess 116 to latch the
tether anchor 132 accommodated inside the recess 116. The tether
anchor 132 can be accommodated inside the recess 116 and latched
by the fixing lug 117 for preventing the interference caused by
the loosing tether assembly 13 when the tether anchor 132 is
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-11
disengaged from the vehicle.
[0043] Besides, in order to secure a lower portion of the child
car seat 1, the base 11 can further include two lower anchors 118
disposed on a connection of the first portion 111 and the second
portion 112 for engaging with the vehicle, e.g., a lower attachment
disposed on the vehicle. By engagement of the two lower anchors
118 and the vehicle and the tether assembly 13 and the vehicle,
the child safety seat can be secured onto the vehicle stably.
[0044] In addition, please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG.
is a diagram of the seat body 12 according to the first embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partial internal structural
diagram of the seat body 12 according to the first embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in
order to absorb lateral impacts, the seat body 12 includes a shell
121 and two lateral impact pads 122 disposed on two lateral sides
of the shell 121. Each side impact pad 122 includes three energy
absorbing layers 1221, 1222, 1223. The three energy absorbing
layers 1221, 1222, 1223 can be made of fabric, foam, plastic, or
rubber, and materials of the three energy absorbing layers 1221,
1222, 1223 can be different or the same. The energy absorbing layer
1221 can be disposed on an outer side of an outer soft layer 1211
disposed on an outer wall 1212 of the shell 121, the energy
absorbing layer 1222 can be disposed between the outer soft layer
1211 and the outer wall 1212 of the shell 121, and the energy
absorbing layer 1223 can be disposed between an inner wall 1213 of
the shell 121 and an inner soft layer 1214 disposed on the inner
wall 1213 of the shell 121. However, the number and the
configuration of the lateral impact pad are not limited to this
embodiment. It depends on practical demands. For example, in
another embodiment, each lateral impact pad can include two or
more energy absorbing layers which can be disposed from the outer
soft layer to the inner soft layer adjacently.
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[0045] Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 is a schematic
diagram of a child safety seat 1' according to a second embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partial internal structural
diagram of the child safety seat 1' shown in FIG. 7 according to
the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
7 and FIG. 8, different from the first embodiment, the child safety
seat 1' includes a base 11', a seat body 12' and a tether assembly
13'. The base 11' and the seat body 12' of this embodiment are
similar to the base 11 and the seat body 12 of the first embodiment.
Detailed description for the base 11' and the seat body 12' is
omitted herein for simplicity. The tether assembly 13' includes a
tether driving component 131', a tether anchor 132' and a tether
strap 133'. The tether driving component 131' includes a handle
part 1311' and two telescopic parts 1312'. The handle part 1311' is
connected to the two telescopic parts 1312' to form a U-shaped
structure. Each telescopic part 1312' includes two telescopic
portions 1312A' slidably connected to each other in a telescopic
manner. The two telescopic portions 1312A' near the base 11' are at
least partially inserted inside two guiding tracks 115' disposed
inside an accommodating chamber 113' formed inside a first portion
111' of the base 11' and slidable relative to the two guiding tracks
115'. The handle part 1311' is connected the corresponding two
telescopic portions 1312A' away from the base 11'. The tether strap
133' is connected to the first portion 111' of the base 11' and
routed through the tether driving component 131', and the tether
strap 133' is extendable and retractable relative to base 11'. The
tether driving component 131' can be moved between the used position
and the stored position by relative movement of the telescopic
portions 1312A' and relative movement of the telescopic parts 1312'
and the guiding tracks 115'. However, the number and the
configuration of the telescopic part are not limited to the ones
illustrated in the figures of this embodiment. It depends on
practical demands. For example, in another embodiment, the tether
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driving component can include one telescopic part and a handle
part connected to the telescopic part, so as to form a T-shaped
structure, and the telescopic part can include three or more
telescopic portions.
[0046] Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a partial lateral view
diagram of a child safety seat 1" according to a third embodiment
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, different from the
aforementioned embodiments, the child safety seat 1" includes a
base 11", a seat body 12" and a tether assembly 13". The tether
assembly 13" includes a tether driving component 131", a tether
anchor, which is not shown in the figure, and a tether strap 133".
The tether driving component 131" includes a handle part 1311" and
a moving part 1312". The moving part 1312" is pivotally connected
to a first portion 111" of the base 11" around a pivoting axis P,
so that the tether driving component 131" can be pivotally extended
relative to the first portion 111" of the base 11" along a first
pivoting direction R1 and pivotally retracted relative to the first
portion 111" of the base 11" along a second pivoting direction R2
opposite to the first pivoting direction R1. The tether strap 133"
is fixedly connected to the handle part 1311" of the tether driving
component 131" and the tether anchor, i.e., the tether strap 133"
is not extendable or retractable relative to the tether driving
component 131". Other structures of this embodiment are similar to
the ones of the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted
herein.
[0047] In contrast to the prior art, in the present invention, the
tether driving component is extendable and retractable relative to
the base between the used position and the stored position.
Therefore, the present invention achieves an aesthetic design of
the base and maintains a lower profile and a lower center of
gravity while providing a proper height adjustment for crash
performance.
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[0048] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
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