GB2554144A

GB2554144A - Child safety seat

Info

Publication number: GB2554144A
Application number: GB1710866.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen Ying-Zhong
Original assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Current assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-08
Filing date: 2017-07-06
Publication date: 2018-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-06
Also published as: DE102017012383B3; DE102017115291B4; CN107585065B; CN107585065A; GB2554144B; GB201710866D0; DE102017012413B4; DE102017115291A1

Abstract

A child safety seat (100, figure 1) includes a child seat (20) for receiving a child, and a support base (10) providing support for the child seat, the child seat being detachable from the support base. The support base includes a shell body (10a) and a fastening mechanism 30a, the fastening mechanism including at least a fastener 32, a switch 32c and a release 34. The fastener is movable between an engaging position for engagement with the child seat and a disengaging position for disengaging from the child seat. A first spring 36 may bias the fastener in the disengaged position. A second spring 35 may bias the latch toward the engaged position. The fastener may comprise a linkage (52, figure 20) movable linked with the fastener. The fastening mechanism keeps the fastener in the disengaging position when the child seat is removed from the support base, and the child seat when installed on the support base contacts and pushes the switch actuating portion in movement for switching the fastener from the disengaging position to the engaging position.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Child safety seat

Abstract Title: Child safety seat having a child seat and support base (57) A child safety seat (100, figure 1) includes a child seat (20) for receiving a child, and a support base (10) providing support for the child seat, the child seat being detachable from the support base. The support base includes a shell body (10a) and a fastening mechanism 30a, the fastening mechanism including at least a fastener 32, a switch 32c and a release 34. The fastener is movable between an engaging position for engagement with the child seat and a disengaging position for disengaging from the child seat. A first spring 36 may bias the fastener in the disengaged position. A second spring 35 may bias the latch toward the engaged position. The fastener may comprise a linkage (52, figure 20) movable linked with the fastener. The fastening mechanism keeps the fastener in the disengaging position when the child seat is removed from the support base, and the child seat when installed on the support base contacts and pushes the switch actuating portion in movement for switching the fastener from the disengaging position to the engaging position.

32c 32a 32

1/25

2/25

FIG. 2

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4/25

A

FIG. 4

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32a 32

FIG. 5

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FIG. 6

7/25

32c 32a 32

322

32b

FIG. 7

8/25

32a 32 32a 32

32b C 36

FIG. 8

9/25

32c 32a

32b C 36

FIG. 9

10/25

32c

FIG. 10

372

11/25

FIG. 11

12/25

FIG. 12

13/25

30b

FIG. 13

14/25

FIG. 14

15/25

FIG. 15

16/25

FIG. 16

17/25

FIG. 17

18/25

FIG. 18

19/25

32c

FIG. 19

20/25

FIG. 20

21/25

FIG. 21

22/25

FIG. 22

23/25

523 323

FIG. 23

24/25

25/25

32'

FIG. 25

CHILD SAFETY SEAT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application claims priority to China patent application no.

201610539387.7 filed on July 8, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to child safety seats.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A child safety seat is typically used in an automobile vehicle to properly restrain a child in the event of accidental collision. Usually, the child safety seat includes a child seat for receiving a child, and a support base that can be installed on a vehicle seat and provide support for the child seat. For facilitating transport of the child seat, some child safety seat may use a detachable structure allowing removal of the child seat from the support base. However, a suitable fastening system is required to securely attach the child seat on the support base.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a child safety seat that allows convenient fastening and unfastening of a child seat on a support base, and can address at least the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY [0007] The present application describes a child safety seat. The child safety seat includes a child seat for receiving a child, and a support base providing support for the child seat, the child seat being detachably installable on the support base. The support base includes a shell body and a fastening mechanism assembled with the shell body, the fastening mechanism including at least a fastener, a switch actuating portion and a release actuating portion, the fastener being movable between an engaging position for engagement with the child seat and a disengaging position for disengaging from the child seat. The fastening mechanism keeps the fastener in the disengaging position when the child seat is removed from the support base, and the child seat when installed on the support base contacts and pushes the switch actuating portion in movement for switching the fastener from the disengaging position to the engaging position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat including a support base and a child seat detachably installed on the support base;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom of the child seat;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the support base alone;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening mechanism provided in the support base for attaching the child seat;

[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in FIG. 4;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism shown in

FIG. 4 locked in an engaging position;

[0014] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portion B shown in FIG. 6;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism shown in

FIG. 4 in a disengaging position;

[0016] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of portion C shown in FIG. 8;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the support base alone in a disengaged state;

[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of a state indicator in the support base;

[0019] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of portion D shown in FIG. 11;

[0020] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a support base provided with another embodiment of a fastening mechanism for attaching the child seat;

[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism provided in the support base shown in FIG. 13;

[0022] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of portion E shown in FIG. 14;

[0023] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism shown in

FIG. 14 in a disengaged state;

[0024] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of portion F shown in FIG. 16;

[0025] FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism shown in

FIG. 14 in an engaged state;

[0026] FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of portion G shown in FIG. 18;

[0027] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating another variant embodiment of a fastening mechanism provided in the support base for attaching the child seat;

[0028] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of portion H shown in FIG. 20;

[0029] FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the fastening mechanism shown in

FIG. 20 locked in a disengaged state;

[0030] FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of portion I shown in FIG. 22;

[0031] FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating further construction details of the fastening mechanism shown in FIG. 20; and [0032] FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of portion J shown in FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0033] FIGS. 1-12 are various schematic views illustrating an embodiment of a child safety seat 100. The child safety seat 100 can include a support base 10, and a child seat 20 that can receive a child and can be detachably installed on the support base

10. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the support base 10 can include a rigid shell body 10a on which the child seat 20 may be installed and supported. The shell body 10a can include an upper shell portion 11 and a lower shell portion 12 that are fixedly connected with each other to define at least partially a hollow interior of the shell body 10a. Two

ISOFIX (International Standard Organization FIX) anchorage connectors 40 can be assembled with the shell body 10a near a first end of the support base 10, and a support leg 50 can be assembled with the shell body 10a near a second end of the support base opposite to the first end. When the child safety seat 100 is installed on a vehicle seat, the anchorage connectors 40 can fasten to anchorage slots provided on the vehicle seat and the support leg 50 can be extended downward to abut against the vehicle floor for providing restraining protection.

[0034] The shell body 10a of the support base 10 can have an upper surface configured to receive the placement of the child seat 20. For example, a bottom of the child seat 20 may be fixedly connected with two spaced-apart bars 31 (better shown in

FIG. 2) that respectively extend transversally from a left to a right side of the child seat

20, and the upper surface of the shell body 10a can include two pairs of transversally spaced-apart recesses 111 (better shown in FIGS. 3 and 10) for at least partially receiving the bars 31 when the child seat 20 is installed on the support base 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2-9, the support base 10 can include a fastening mechanism 30a operable to fasten the child seat 20 in position on the support base 10, and unfasten the child seat 20 for its removal from the support base 10. The fastening mechanism 30a can be assembled with the shell body 10a, and include a plurality of fasteners 32, a latch

33, a release actuating portion 34 and a plurality of springs 35 and 36.

[0035] The fasteners 32 can be respectively disposed adjacent to the recesses

111, and can respectively engage or disengage the bars 31 of the child seat 10 for fastening or unfastening the child seat 20 with respect to the support base 10. According to an example of construction, four fasteners 32 may be movably assembled with the support base 10 to achieve four attachment points with the two bars 31 of the child seat

20: two first fasteners 32 transversally spaced apart from each other may be disposed near a first end of the support base 10 (e.g., near the anchorage connectors 40), and two second fasteners 32 transversally spaced apart from each other may be disposed near an opposite second end of the support base 10 (e.g., near the support leg 50).

[0036] The fasteners 32 may be identical in construction, and may be assembled in the shell body 10a in a same way. Each of the fasteners 32 may be respectively connected pivotally with the shell body 10a about a pivot axis 321, and can be formed to include a hook portion 32a. For example, a support frame 13 fixedly attached with a plurality of brackets 14 protruding upward near the upper shell portion 11 may be disposed inside and fixedly connected with the shell body 10a, and each fastener 32 can be pivotally supported by at least one bracket 14 about the pivot axis 321. The pivot axis 321 may extend transversally from a left to a right side of the support base 10. Each fastener 32 can rotate relative to the shell body 10a between an engaging position (better shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) where the hook portion 32a can protrude into the recess 111 and engage with the child seat 20, and a disengaging position (better shown in FIG. 9) where the hook portion 32a can be retracted toward an interior of the shell body 10a and disengage from the child seat 20. In particular, two of the fasteners 32 near the first end of the support base 10 can respectively engage or disengage a corresponding one of the two bars 31 placed in the first pair of the recesses 111, and two other ones of the fasteners 32 near the second end of the support base 10 can respectively engage or disengage the other one of the two bars 31 placed in the other pair of the recesses 111.

The fasteners 32 can move in parallel relative to the shell body 10a between the disengaging position and the engaging position.

[0037] Each fastener 32 is biased to the disengaging position when no child seat is installed on the support base 10, and the installation of the child seat 20 on the support base 10 can cause each fastener 32 to move from the disengaging position to the engaging position. The biasing force for urging each fastener 32 toward the disengaging position can be provided by each spring 36 coupled thereto. Referring to FIGS. 6-9, each fastener 32 can be connected with one spring 36 associated therewith, the spring having two opposite ends respectively connected with the fastener 32 and the shell body 10a. According to an example of construction, the spring 36 may be a torsion spring that can be assembled with a mount part 15 provided on the fastener 32, two ends of the torsion spring being respectively connected with the mount part 15 and the support frame 13. The mount part 15 may be fixedly attached to the fastener 32, or formed integrally therewith. According to another example of construction, the spring may be a tension spring having two ends respectively anchored with the fastener 32 and the shell body 10a (e.g., the bracket 14 or support frame 13 of the shell body 10a).

[0038] As better shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, each fastener 32 can be fixedly connected with an abutting portion 32b and a switch actuating portion 32c. The abutting portion 32b and the switch actuating portion 32c can be formed as protrusions, the switch actuating portion 32c protruding between the hook portion 32a and the abutting portion 32b so that the fastener 32 can have a three-prong shape. According to an example of construction, the hook portion 32a, the abutting portion 32b and the switch actuating portion 32c may be formed integrally with the fastener 32 as a single part.

[0039] The switch actuating portion 32c and the hook portion 32a can be disposed at two distinct positions. When the child seat 20 is installed on the support base 10, the switch actuating portion 32c can be actuated by the child seat 20 for switching the fastener 32 from the disengaging position to the engaging position. The switch actuating portion 32c can be placed at a suitable location that facilitates a contact with the child seat 20, e.g., near the upper surface of the shell body 10a, such as adjacent to the recess 111. According to an example of construction, the switch actuating portion 32c can be exposed in the recess 111 when the fastener 32 is in the disengaging position. The installation of the child seat 20 on the support base 10 can cause the bar 31 to contact and push the switch actuating portion 32c downward, which urges the fastener 32 to rotate from the disengaging position to the engaging position so that the hook portion 32a can engage with the bar 31 in the recess 111.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 4-9, the latch 33 can be slidably assembled with the shell body 10a of the support base 10 for back and forth movement along a lengthwise axis Z. The latch 33 may be provided as a single part, and the fasteners 32 can be respectively disposed adjacent to a left and a right side of the latch 33. According to an example of construction, the latch 33 can have a plate shape. The latch 33 can slide relative to the shell body 10a between a lock position shown in FIG. 6 and a release position shown in FIG. 8. In the lock position, the latch 33 can respectively engage with each fastener 32 positioned in the engaging position so as to prevent movement of the fastener 32 from the engaging position to the disengaging position. For example, each fastener 32 can have a notch 322 defined between the abutting portion 32b and the switch actuating portion 32c, and the latch 33 can have a corresponding lip 331 that engages the notch 322 to lock the fastener 32 in the engaging position. Accordingly, the lock position of the latch 33 can maintain each fastener 32 in the engaging position against the biasing action of the spring 36. In the release position, the latch 33 can disengage from the notch 322 of each fastener 32, which allows each fastener 32 to move between the engaging position and the disengaging position.

[0041] Referring again to FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the spring 35 can be respectively connected with the latch 33 and the shell body 10a. For example, a first end of the spring 35 can be anchored with the latch 33, and a second end of the spring 35 can be anchored with the support frame 13 or the lower shell portion 12. The spring 35 can bias the latch 33 toward the lock position for engagement with the respective notches 322 of the fasteners 32. Owing to the biasing force exerted by the spring 35, the latch 33 can be kept in contact with the fasteners 32 outside the notches 322 when the fasteners 32 are in their respective disengaging positions.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the release actuating portion 34 can be connected with the latch 33, and is exposed for operation at the second end of the support base 10 (e.g., near the support leg 50). The release actuating portion 34 is operable to displace the latch 33 from the lock position to the release position.

According to some example of construction, the release actuating portion 34 may be movably connected with the latch 33. According to some other embodiments, the release actuating portion 34 may be fixedly connected with the latch 33, e.g., the release actuating portion 34 may be fixedly attached to or formed integrally with the latch 33.

[0043] Exemplary operation of the fastening mechanism 30a of the support base

10 is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-10. The support base 10 is shown with no child seat installed thereon in FIG. 10. Referring to FIGS. 8-10, when the child seat 20 is removed from the support base 10, the fastening mechanism 30a can be in a disengaged state and respectively maintain each fastener 32 in the disengaging position.

More specifically, the biasing action of each spring 36 can keep the corresponding fastener 32 stationary in the disengaging position with the switch actuating portion 32c exposed and protruding into the recess 111 and the hook portion 32a retracted toward the interior of the shell body 10a. Moreover, the latch 33 is in the release position disengaged from the notch 322 of each fastener 32. The biasing force of the spring 35 can cause the latch 33 to contact with each fastener 32 outside the notch 322, e.g., the lip 331 of the latch 33 may be in contact with the abutting portion 32b of each fastener

32, which can assist in keeping the latch 33 in the release position.

[0044] When the child seat 20 is installed on the support base 10, the bars 31 of the child seat 20 can be positioned in the recesses 111 and actuate the switch actuating portions 32c for switching the fastening mechanism 30a from the disengaged state to the engaged state. More specifically, each bar 31 placed in the recesses 111 can respectively contact and push the switch actuating portions 32c of the corresponding fasteners 32 downward, which urges each fastener 32 to rotate relative to the shell body 10a from the disengaging position to the engaging position against the biasing force of the spring 36.

This rotation of each fastener 32 to the engaging position causes the hook portion 32a thereof to protrude into the recess 111 and engage with the bar 31 to fasten the child seat 20 with the support base 10. As each fastener 32 rotates toward the engaging position, the lip 331 of the latch 33 may be in sliding contact with the abutting portion

32b of the fastener 32. This sliding contact may be occur on a ramp surface provided on the abutting portion 32b to facilitate the rotation of the fastener 32 to the engaging position. Once each fastener 32 has reached the engaging position, the latch 33 biased by the spring 35 can slide from the release position to the lock position so that the lips

331 of the latch 33 can respectively engage the notches 322 of the fasteners 32. The latch 33 can thereby lock each fastener 32 in the engaging position for securely fastening the child seat 20 on the support base 10. The fastening mechanism 30a is shown in the engaged state in FIGS. 4-7 with each fastener 32 in the engaging position and the latch 33 in the lock position. While the fastener 32 is in the engaging position, the switch actuating portion 32c in contact with the child seat 20 can be located below the hook portion 32a.

[0045] For removing the child seat 20 from the support base 10, a caregiver can operate the release actuating portion 34 (e.g., by pulling the release actuating portion

34), which urges the latch 33 to slide from the lock position to the release position so that the lips 331 of the latch 33 can respectively disengage from the notches 322 of the fasteners 32 for rotation of the fasteners 32. While the latch 33 remains in the release position, the child seat 20 then can be lifted from the support base 10 for removing the bars 31 from the recesses 111. Since the bars 31 no longer push the switch actuating portions 32c downward, each fastener 32 biased by the spring 36 coupled thereto can accordingly rotate from the engaging position to the disengaging position, which causes the hook portion 32a to retract toward an interior of the shell body 10a and disengage from the bar 31. This rotation of each fastener 32 can bring the abutting portion 32b thereof to a position facing the corresponding lip 331 of the latch 33. Once child seat 20 is removed from the support base 10, the caregiver can release the release actuating portion 34. The latch 33 biased by the spring 35 then can rest in contact against the fasteners 32 (e.g., the abutting portions 32b thereof) adjacent to the release position.

[0046] Referring to FTGS. 1, 10, 12 and 13, the support base 10 may further include a state indicator 37 operable to visually indicate whether the child seat 20 is securely fastened on the support base 10. According to an embodiment, the state indicator 37 may be movably linked to the latch 33 so that a movement of the latch 33 between the release position and the lock position can drive the state indicator 37 in movement between an unfastened status position and a fastened status position. For example, the state indicator 37 may include two visually distinctive regions 371 and 372 that may alternatively appear on a display window 112 provided on the shell body 10a depending on the position of the state indicator 37. The state indicator 37 can be in the unfastened status position with the region 372 appearing on the display window 112 while the latch 33 is in the release position, and the state indicator 37 can be in the fastened status position with the region 371 appearing on the display window 112 while the latch 33 is in the lock position. The display window 112 may include an opening formed on the shell body 10a.

[0047] According to an example of construction, the state indicator 37 may be pivotally connected with the lower shell portion 12 of the shell body 10a via a pivot shaft 375, so that the state indicator 37 can rotate relative to the shell body 10a about a pivot axis 373 extending generally vertically. The state indicator 37 can include an elongate slot 374 spaced apart from the pivot shaft 375, and the latch 33 can be fixedly connected with a pin 332 that is guided for sliding movement along the elongate slot

374. Accordingly, a sliding movement of the latch 33 can cause the state indicator 37 to rotate about the pivot axis 373 relative to the shell body 10a so as to have either of the two distinctive regions 371 and 372 exposed on the display window 112. It will be appreciated that the state indicator 37 may be likewise driven in movement with a variant construction in which the elongate slot 374 is provided on the latch 33 and the pin 332 is provided on the state indicator 37.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the two distinctive regions 371 and 372 may be provided on a curved surface 37a of the state indicator 37 facing the display window 112. The two regions 371 and 372 can be provided with different markings that can be visually distinguished by a caregiver. For example, the region 371 can have one color (e.g., blue or green) for indicating that the child seat 20 is securely fastened on the support base 10, and the region 372 can have another color (e.g., red) for indicating that the child seat 20 is not yet fastened on the support base 10.

[0049] For a more user-friendly use, two of the same state indicator 37 described previously may be provided on two opposite sides of the support base 10, e.g., on the left and right sides.

[0050] FIGS. 13-19 are various schematic views illustrating another fastening mechanism 30b that can substitute for the fastening mechanism 30a described previously. The fastening mechanism 30b can include the same component parts of the fastening mechanism 30a described previously, and further includes a plurality of stop members 38 and springs 39. The stop members 38 can be movably assembled with the shell body 10a respectively adjacent to the fasteners 32, and can be respectively coupled to the springs 39. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four fasteners 32, so four stop members 38 and four springs 39 can be provided in association with the four fasteners

32. The four stop members 38 can be similar in construction and operate in a same way.

Accordingly, the description hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 13-19 will depict only one stop member 38, the other stop members 38 being identical.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the stop member 38 can be disposed at a front of the fastener 32, and can be pivotally connected with the shell body 10a (e.g., the stop member 38 may be pivotally supported by the bracket 14 of the support frame 13) about a pivot axis 381 that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis 321 of the fastener

32. Accordingly, the stop member 38 can rotate relative to the shell body 10a and the fastener 32 between a blocking position shown in FIG. 17 and an unblocking position shown in FIG. 19. In the blocking position, the stop member 38 can contact against the fastener 32 (e.g., the mount portion 15 on the fastener 32) so as to block rotational movement of the fastener 32 from the disengaging position toward the engaging position. In the unblocking position, the stop member 38 can create a clearance allowing rotational movement of the fastener 32 from the disengaging position to the engaging position.

[0052] The spring 39 can be respectively connected with the stop member 38 and the shell body 10a, and can exemplary be a torsion spring. The spring 39 can apply a biasing force that urges the stop member 38 toward the blocking position to assist in maintaining the fastener 32 in the disengaging position. According to an embodiment, the biasing force applied by the spring 39 can be greater than the biasing force applied by the spring 36 coupled to the fastener 32.

[0053] Other than the stop member 38 and the spring 39, the remaining parts of the fastening mechanism 30b common to those of the fastening mechanism 30 operate in the same way described previously. When the child seat 20 is removed from the support base 10, the fastener 32 can be kept in the disengaging position owing to the biasing force applied by the spring 36, like previously described. Moreover, the stop member 38 can be kept in the blocking position and protrude outward in the recess 111 owing to the biasing force applied by the spring 39, which can assist in holding the fastener 32 in the disengaging position.

[0054] When the child seat 20 is installed on the support base 10, the bar 31 of the child seat 20 can be positioned in the recess 111, and can contact and push the stop member 38 downward to the unblocking position against the biasing force of the spring

39. As the stop member 38 is pushed away from the blocking position, the bar 31 can further push the switch actuating portion 32c downward so that the fastener 32 can rotate to have the hook portion 32a engaged with the bar 31. Like in the fastening mechanism 30a described previously, once the fastener 32 is in the engaging position, the spring 35 can urge the latch 33 in movement for engaging the lip 331 with the notch

322 of the fastener 32 to lock the fastener 32 in the engaging position.

[0055] For removing the child seat 20 from the support base 10, a caregiver can operate the release actuating portion 34 like previously described, which urges the latch to slide from the lock position to the release position for rotation of the fasteners 32.

While the latch 33 remains in the release position, the child seat 20 then can be lifted from the support base 10 for removing the bars 31 from the recesses 111. Each fastener biased by the spring 36 then can rotate from the engaging position to the disengaging position, which causes the hook portion 32a to retract toward an interior of the shell body 10a and disengage from the bar 31. As the fastener 32 recover the disengaging position, the stop member 38 biased by the spring 39 can recover the blocking position.

[0056] FIGS. 20-25 are various schematic views illustrating another fastening mechanism 30c that can substitute for the fastening mechanisms 30a and 30b described previously. Referring to FIGS. 20-25, the fastening mechanism 30c can be assembled with the support base 10 and can include a plurality of fasteners 32’, a linkage 52, one or more latch 53, a release actuating portion 34 and a plurality of springs 54 and 55.

[0057] Like the fasteners 32 of the fastening mechanism 30a described previously, each fastener 32’ of the fastening mechanism 30c can be respectively connected pivotally with the shell body 10a about a pivot axis 321. Each fastener 32’ can include a hook portion 32a and a pin 323, which may be located at two sides of the pivot axis 321 of the fastener 32’. Like in the previous embodiments, each fastener 32’ can rotate relative to the shell body 10a between an engaging position (better shown in

FIG. 21) where the hook portion 32a can engage with a bar 31 of the child seat 20 (better shown in FIG. 2), and a disengaging position (better shown in FIG. 23) where the hook portion 32a can disengage from the bar 31 of the child seat 20.

[0058] The linkage 52 can be slidably assembled in the shell body 10a of the support base 10 for back and forth movement along the lengthwise axis Z, and can be respectively connected with the fasteners 32’. According to an example of construction, the linkage 52 can be formed as a single part including a plurality of guide slots 523 respectively adjacent to the fasteners 32’, and the pins 323 of the fasteners 32’ can be respectively assembled slidably through the guide slots 523. In this manner, the linkage can be movably linked to each fastener 32’ when the fastener 32’ moves between the disengaging position and the engaging position. In particular, the linkage 52 can slide relative to the shell body 10a between a first position shown in FIG. 21 and a second position shown in FIG. 23, which can drive each fastener 32’ to rotate in parallel between the engaging and disengaging positions. The first position of the linkage 52 can maintain each fastener 32’ in the engaging position, and the second position of the linkage 52 can maintain each fastener 32’ in the disengaging position.

[0059] The spring 55 can be respectively connected with the linkage 52 and the shell body 10a. The biasing force applied by the spring 55 can urge the linkage 52 toward the first position, so that each fastener 32’ can be biased toward the engaging position.

[0060] The release actuating portion 34 can be connected with the linkage 52, and is exposed for operation at the second end of the support base 10. The release actuating portion 34 is operable to displace the linkage 52 from the first position to the second position against the biasing force of the spring 55, thereby cause each fastener

32’ to rotate from the engaging position to the disengaging position. According to some example of construction, the release actuating portion 34 may be movably connected with the linkage 52. According to some other embodiments, the release actuating portion 34 may be fixedly connected with the linkage 52.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 20, 25, the latch 53 can be movably assembled with the shell body 10a, and can be fixedly connected with a switch actuating portion 53b.

According to an example of construction, a mount bracket 16 (better shown in FIG. 25) may be fixedly connected with the shell body 10a, and the latch 53 can be slidably connected with the mount bracket 16 for upward and downward sliding movement.

Accordingly, the latch 53 can slide substantially perpendicular to the linkage 52. The latch 53 can vertically move between a lock position shown in FIG. 23 where the latch engages with the linkage 52 to lock each fastener 32’ in the disengaging position, and a release position shown in FIG. 21 where the latch 53 is disengaged from the linkage 52 for movement of the linkage 52 and each fastener 32’ coupled thereto between the disengaging position and the engaging position. For example, the linkage may include an opening 524, and the latch 53 can be engaged with the opening 524 in the lock position and disengaged from the opening 524 in the release position.

[0062] According to an example of construction, the latch 53 may be disposed so as to extend through the linkage 52. To facilitate the movement of the linkage 52 relative to the latch 53, the linkage 52 can further include an elongate slot 525 that is connected with the opening 524, the elongate slot 525 being narrower than the opening

524. The latch 53 can have an enlarged section 53a that can engage with the opening

524 in the lock position, the enlarged section 53a being larger than the elongate slot 525 so as to prevent movement of the linkage 52 in the lock position. When the latch 53 is in the release position, the enlarged section 53a can disengage from the opening 524 and a smaller section of the latch 53 (i.e., sufficiently small for traveling into the elongate slot

525) extends through the linkage 52, which allows sliding movement of the linkage 52 for rotating each fastener 32’ between the disengaging position and the engaging position. When the fasteners 32’ are in the engaging position, the smaller section of the latch 53 can extend through the elongate slot 525, as shown in FIG. 21.

[0063] As better shown in FIG. 25, the spring 54 can be respectively connected with the latch 53 and the shell body 10a. For example, the spring 54 may be a compression spring. The spring 54 can bias the latch 53 toward the lock position for engagement with the opening 524 of the linkage 52.

[0064] Referring to FIGS. 20, 22 and 24, the same assembly of the latch 53 and the spring 54 as described previously may be provided at multiple locations for achieving multiple locking points with respect to the linkage 52. For example, two sets of the latch 53 and the spring 54 may be respectively disposed near two opposite ends of the linkage 52.

[0065] In the fastening mechanism 30c, the switch actuating portion 53b can be disposed at a suitable location that can facilitate a contact with the child seat 20, e.g., near the upper surface of the shell body 10a, such as adjacent to the recess 111 (shown in FIG. 3) where the bar 31 of the child seat 20 can be installed. According to an example of construction, the switch actuating portion 53b can protrude outward when the child seat 20 is removed from the support base 10 and the latch 53 is in the lock position locking the linkage 52 and each fastener 32’ in the disengaging position. Like in the previous embodiments, the switch actuating portion 53b of the fastening mechanism 30c can be actuated by the child seat 20 for switching each fastener 32’ from the disengaging position to the engaging position during installation of the child seat 20 on the support base 10.

[0066] Exemplary operation of the fastening mechanism 30c is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 20-25. When the child seat 20 is installed on the support base 10, a portion of the child seat 20 (e.g., the bar 31 shown in FIG. 2) can contact and push the switch actuating portion 53b downward, which urges the latch to move from the lock position to the release position against the biasing force of the spring 54. Once the latch 53 is in the release position, the linkage 52 biased by the spring 55 can slide and drive each fastener 32’ to rotate from the disengaging position to the engaging position so that the hook portion 32a can engage with the bar 3E While the fasteners 32’ are in the engaging position, the latch 53 can remain in the release position (e.g., with the enlarged section 53a in sliding contact against an underside of the linkage 52), and the switch actuating portion 53b in contact with the child seat 20 may be positioned lower than the hook portions 32a of the fasteners 32’.

[0067] For removing the child seat 20 from the support base 10, a caregiver can operate the release actuating portion 34 (e.g., by pulling the release actuating portion

34), which urges the linkage 52 to slide relative to the latch 53 and the shell body 10a and drive each fastener 32’ to rotate from the engaging position to the disengaging position for disengaging from the bar 31. Once the fasteners 32’ reach the disengaging position, the latch 53 biased by the spring 54 can engage with the opening 524 of the linkage 52, which can lock the linkage 52 and the fasteners 32’ in the disengaging position. The child seat 20 then can be lifted and removed from the support base 10.

[0068] As better shown in FIGS. 20, 22 and 24, the embodiment using the fastening mechanism 30c may further include the state indicator 37 operable to visually indicate whether the child seat 20 is securely fastened on the support base 10. The state indicator 37 may be movably linked to the linkage 52 so that a movement of the linkage between the disengaging position and the engaging position can drive the state indicator 37 in movement between an unfastened status position and a fastened status position, like previously described.

[0069] Advantages of the child safety seats described herein include a fastening mechanism that can securely fasten a child seat on the support base, and unfasten the child seat for its removal from the support base. The fastening mechanism can consistently keep a disengaged state when no child seat is installed thereon, and switch to an engaged state when the child seat is installed on the support base. The fastening mechanism can conveniently switch from the disengaged state to the engaged state by using a switch actuating portion that is actuated by the child seat.

[0070] Realizations of the child safety seats have been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.

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

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A child safety seat comprising:

a child seat for receiving a child; and a support base providing support for the child seat, the child seat being 5 detachably installable on the support base, the support base including a shell body and a fastening mechanism assembled with the shell body, the fastening mechanism including at least a fastener, a switch actuating portion and a release actuating portion, the fastener being movable between an engaging position for engagement with the child seat and a disengaging

10 position for disengaging from the child seat;

wherein the fastening mechanism keeps the fastener in the disengaging position when the child seat is removed from the support base, and the child seat when installed on the support base pushes the switch actuating portion in movement for switching the fastener from the disengaging position to the

15 engaging position.
2. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is pivotally connected with the shell body.
3. The child safety seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the child seat has a bar, and the shell body includes a recess for at least partially receiving the bar when the child

20 seat is installed on the support base, the switch actuating portion being disposed adjacent to the recess.
4. The child safety seat according to claim 3, wherein the fastener has a hook portion, the hook portion protruding into the recess when the fastener is in the engaging position, and the hook portion retracting toward an interior of the shell body when the

25 fastener moves from the engaging position to the disengaging position.
5. The child safety seat according to claim 4, wherein the switch actuating portion is in contact with the child seat and is located lower than the hook portion when the fastening mechanism securely attaches the child seat on the support base.
6. The child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the switch

5 actuating portion is fixedly connected with the fastener.
7. The child safety seat according to claim 6, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes a spring connected with the fastener, the spring biasing the fastener toward the disengaging position.
8. The child safety seat according to claim 7, wherein the child seat when installed

10 on the support base contacts and pushes the switch actuating portion in movement, which urges the fastener to move from the disengaging position to the engaging position against a biasing force of the spring.
9. The child safety seat according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes a latch connected with the release actuating portion, the

15 latch being movable between a lock position where the latch is engaged with the fastener to lock the fastener in the engaging position, and a release position where the latch is disengaged from the fastener for movement of the fastener between the disengaging position and the engaging position, the release actuating portion being operable to urge the latch to move from the lock position to the release position.

20 10. The child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein the fastener includes a notch, the latch being engaged with the notch in the lock position and disengaged from the notch in the release position.

11. The child safety seat according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the latch is slidably assembled with the shell body, and the fastening mechanism further includes a second spring connected with the latch, the second spring biasing the latch toward the lock position.

12. The child safety seat according any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes a stop member pivotally connected with the shell body, the

5 stop member being rotatable relative to the shell body and the fastener between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the stop member when in the blocking position contacting against the fastener to prevent the fastener from moving from the disengaging position toward the engaging position, and the child seat when installed on the support base contacting and pushing the stop member to move from the blocking
10 position to the unblocking position for movement of the fastener between the disengaging position and the engaging position.
13. The child safety seat according to claim 12, wherein the stop member is connected with a third spring, the third spring biasing the stop member toward the blocking position.
15 14. The child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes a linkage respectively connected with the fastener and the release actuating portion, the linkage being movably linked to the fastener when the fastener moves between the disengaging position and the engaging position.

15. The child safety seat according to claim 14, wherein the linkage is slidably

20 assembled in the shell body, and the fastening mechanism further includes a fourth spring connected with the linkage, the fourth spring applying a biasing force for biasing the fastener toward the engaging position.
16. The child safety seat according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes a latch fixedly connected with the switch actuating portion,

25 the latch being movable between a lock position where the latch engages with the linkage to lock the fastener in the disengaging position, and a release position where the latch is disengaged from the linkage for movement of the fastener between the disengaging position and the engaging position, the child seat when installed on the support base contacting and pushing the switch actuating portion in movement, which

5 urges the latch to move from the lock position to the release position.
17. The child safety seat according to claim 16, wherein the latch is slidably assembled with the shell body, the latch being slidable substantially perpendicular to the linkage, and the fastening mechanism further includes a fifth spring connected with the latch, the fifth spring biasing the latch toward the lock position.

10
18. The child safety seat according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the linkage includes an opening, the latch being engaged with the opening in the lock position and disengaged from the opening in the release position.
19. The child safety seat according to claim 18, wherein the linkage further includes an elongate slot connected with the opening, the latch extending through the elongate

15 slot when the fastener is in the engaging position.
20. The child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fastener is biased toward either of the disengaging position and the engaging position, and the fastening mechanism further includes a latch for locking the fastener in a desired position, the latch being provided for locking the fastener in the engaging position and

20 the switch actuating portion being fixedly connected with the fastener when the fastener is biased toward the disengaging position, and the latch being provided for locking the fastener in the disengaging position and the switch actuating portion being fixedly connected with the latch when the fastener is biased toward the engaging position.
21. The child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 20, further including a state
25 indicator connected with the fastening assembly, the state indicator being operable to indicate whether the child seat is securely fastened on the support base.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched: