Side protection mechanism

Abstract

Lateral protection mechanism (100) designed for a child safety seat (200), characterized in that the lateral protection mechanism (100) comprises: - a protective block (110) which is pivotably arranged on a lateral section (220) of the child safety seat (200) and can be pivotably switched between an unfolded position and a folded-in position;- a locking component (120) that is slidably switchable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the guard block (110) can be pivoted between the unfolded position and the folded-in position when the locking component (120) is in the release position, the locking component (120) can be moved between the release position and the locking position when the guard block (110) is in the unfolded position or in the folded-in position, and the guard block (110) is retained from leaving the folded-in position when the locking component (120) and the guard block (110) are in the locking position or in the folded-in position;- an actuating component (140) which is movably arranged on the child safety seat (200) to drive the locking component (120) to move it into the locking position when the actuating component (140) is actuated.;

Description

Scope of the invention The present invention relates to a lateral protection mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1. Technical background of the invention A child car seat, a type of child restraint system, is a device installed on a vehicle seat and equipped with a restraint system, such as a seatbelt, to secure a child while the vehicle is in motion. In the event of emergency braking or a collision, the child restraint system can reduce the impact forces acting on the child and restrict the child's body movement to prevent injury or death and ensure the child's safety while seated. To reduce lateral impact forces, child restraint systems are currently equipped with side impact protection devices. However, a conventional side impact protection device is open and usually fixed to a side section of the child restraint system. In other words, a side impact protection device is not foldable. Such a configuration not only takes up more space but also disturbs other passengers sitting nearby. In addition, there is another conventional side guard that folds down to save space. However, it can happen that a user or caregiver forgets to unfold a foldable side guard before driving, so that the foldable side guard does not function properly in the event of emergency braking or a collision with another vehicle. Furthermore, two foldable side guards on opposite sides are configured to be held together in the extended position, and a user or caregiver cannot selectively fold one of the two foldable side guards down to a retracted position as needed after both have been activated to be in the extended position. Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved side protection mechanism adapted for a child safety seat, which unfolds automatically and can be folded in or out depending on practical requirements, in order to solve the problem mentioned above. Summary of the invention In this sense, the present invention aims to provide a lateral protection mechanism designed for a child safety seat, which has an automatic unfolding process and can be folded in or out depending on practical requirements. This is achieved by a lateral protection mechanism according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to corresponding further developments and improvements. As will become clearer from the detailed description below, the claimed lateral protection mechanism, designed for a child safety seat, comprises a protective block, a locking component, and an actuating component. The protective block is pivotally mounted on a lateral section of the child safety seat and can be pivotally switched between an extended and a folded position. The locking component is slidably mounted on the lateral section of the child safety seat and can be switched between a locked position and a released position. The protective block can be pivoted between the extended and folded positions when the locking component is in the released position.The locking component can be moved between the release position and the locked position when the guard block is in the extended or retracted position, and the guard block is held back from leaving the retracted position when both the locking component and the guard block are in the locked or retracted positions, respectively. The actuating component is movably mounted on the child safety seat to drive the locking component into the locked position when the actuating component is activated. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the actuating component is arranged on a seat section of the child safety seat. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the actuating component is connected to a belt arranged on the seat section of the child safety seat, and the belt actuates the actuating component to move the locking component into the locking position when the belt is fastened. Preferably, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lateral protection mechanism further comprises a drive component which is movably arranged on the lateral section of the child safety seat and coupled to the actuating component, and the actuating component drives the drive component to move the locking component into the locking position when the actuating component is actuated. Preferably, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lateral protection mechanism further comprises a connecting component that is connected to the drive component and the actuating component, and the actuating component drives the drive component to drive the locking component by moving the connecting component into the locking position when the actuating component is actuated. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the drive component is pivotably arranged on the lateral section of the child safety seat, and a positioning recess is formed on an outer circumference of the drive component, which extends along a direction of rotation of the drive component in order to engage releasably with the locking component. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the locking component is in the release position when the locking component engages in the positioning recess, and the locking component is configured such that it is moved from the release position to the locking position when the drive component pivots to release the locking component from the positioning recess. Preferably, in an embodiment of the present invention, the locking component comprises a stop projection located at a position corresponding to the positioning recess, which releasably engages in the positioning recess. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the actuating component is connected to the outer circumference of the drive component in order to drive the drive component to pivot. Preferably, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lateral protection mechanism further comprises at least one restoring elastic component arranged between the drive component and the lateral section of the child safety seat to pre-tension the drive component for resetting. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lateral protection mechanism further comprises a mounting base that is fixedly arranged on the lateral section of the child safety seat. The locking component is slidably arranged within the mounting base. The drive component is pivotably arranged within the mounting base and rests against the locking component, and the protective block is pivotably arranged on the mounting base and is located outside the mounting base. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, a receiving chamber is formed inside the mounting base. A through-hole is formed in the mounting base, which communicates with the receiving chamber. The locking component and the drive component are housed in the receiving chamber, and the locking component extends through the through-hole to engage with the protective block when the locking component is in the locked position. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, a displacement direction of the locking component intersects a pivot axis of the protective block. In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking component preferably comprises a positioning projection that projects along a displacement direction of the locking component, and the protective block comprises a positioning rib that is located at a position corresponding to the positioning projection. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning projection engages in the positioning rib when the locking component and the protective block are in the locking position or in the folded-in position, and the protective block is held back from leaving the folded-in position when the positioning projection engages in the positioning rib. In summary, the present invention allows the protective block to automatically pivot into the extended position by the unfolding elastic component, unless forced into the folded position by a folding force or held back by the locking component, in order to reduce lateral impact forces during emergency braking or a vehicle accident. This not only simplifies operation but also prevents a user or caregiver from forgetting to extend the protective block, thus ensuring the proper functioning of the side impact protection mechanism. When the actuating component is activated, it drives the actuator component to move the locking component into the locked position, preventing the protective block from leaving the folded position.Therefore, it offers a convenient way to save space by folding the guard block into the folded position and then actuating the locking component to prevent the guard block from leaving the folded position, depending on practical requirements. When the locking component is moved from the release position to the locking position, the locking component and the guard block do not interfere in the unfolded position, allowing the guard block to be held in the unfolded position, thus simplifying use. These and other problems of the present invention will undoubtedly become obvious to the person skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. Brief description of the drawings The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a child restraint system according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the child restraint system when a protective block is removed from a child safety seat according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a side protection mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the child restraint system with the side protection mechanism unfolded according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of part A of the child restraint system shown in Fig. 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention.Fig. 6 a sectional view of the child restraint system when the side protection mechanism is in a state between the unfolded and the folded-in state according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 an enlarged view of a B-part of the child restraint system shown in Fig. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 a sectional view of the child restraint system in the folded-in state of the side protection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 an enlarged view of a C-part of the child restraint system shown in Fig. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10 a sectional view of the child restraint system when the side protection mechanism is in a locked state according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 11 an enlarged view of a D-part of the child restraint system shown in Fig.10 child restraint system shown according to the embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this document and in which certain embodiments of the invention can be carried out are shown for illustrative purposes. In this context, directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," etc., are used in relation to the orientation of the described figure(s). The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. The directional terminology is therefore used for illustrative purposes only and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not as limiting. See Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, and Fig. 11. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a child restraint system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the child restraint system 1 with a protective block 110 removed from a child safety seat 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the child restraint system 1 in a side protection mechanism 100 in a locked state according to the embodiment. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of a D-part of the child restraint system 1 shown in Fig. 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, and Fig. 11, the child restraint system 1 comprises two side protection mechanisms 100 and a child safety seat 200. In this embodiment, the child safety seat 200 can be a car seat.The present invention is not limited to this, however. In another embodiment, the child safety seat can, for example, also be a bassinet or a pram basket. The child safety seat 200 comprises a seat section 210, two side sections 220, and a harness system, which is not shown in the figures. The seat section 210 serves to allow a child to sit in it. The side sections 220 are arranged on two lateral sides of the seat section 210. The harness system serves to restrain the child sitting in the seat section 210. The two lateral safety mechanisms 100 are arranged on the two lateral sections 220 and can be configured as shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 1, the two side guards 100 can be held in the unfolded position to reduce the lateral impact forces acting on the child seated in the seat section 210, as long as the two side guards 100 are not forced into a folded position by folding forces or are not in locking positions, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. Furthermore, at least one of the two side guards 100 can be switched into the locking position, i.e., the guard block 110 of the side guard 100 can be pivoted into a folded position relative to the side section 220, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, and held in place to save space. In particular, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a receiving slot 221 is formed on each side section 220. Each side protection mechanism 100 is pivotably arranged on the corresponding side section 220 and can be pivotably housed in the corresponding receiving slot 221. However, the structure of the child safety seat 200 is not limited to the structures shown in the figures. It depends on practical requirements. For the sake of simplicity, a detailed description of the seat section 210, the side section 220, and the harness system is omitted here. Furthermore, the two side protection mechanisms 100 can be similarly constructed on two sides, and a detailed description of the side protection mechanism 100 on one side is given below. See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5, 10, and 11. Fig. 3 shows the side restraint mechanism 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the child restraint system 1 in the unfolded state of the side restraint mechanism 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of part A of the child restraint system 1 shown in Fig. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5, and 10 to 11, the side restraint mechanism 100 comprises the guard block 110, a locking component 120, a drive component 130, and an actuating component 140.The protective block 110 is pivotally mounted on the lateral section 220 and can be pivotally switched between an extended position, which is away from the lateral section 220, and a folded position, which is adjacent to the lateral section 220. The protective block 110 can be held in the extended position unless it is forced or restrained by a folding force to leave the folded position, and the protective block 110 only pivots from the extended position to the folded position when forced by the folding force. The locking component 120 is slidably mounted on the lateral section 220 and can be slidably switched between a locking position and a release position.The protective block 110 can be pivotally switched between the unfolded position and the folded-in position when the locking component 120 is in the release position. The locking component 120 can be moved between the release position and the locking position when the guard block 110 is in the extended or retracted position. When the guard block 110 is in the extended position, the locking component 120 can be moved from the release position to the locking position without interfering with the guard block 110, thus holding the guard block 110 in the extended position.When the guard block 110 is in the folded position, the locking component 120 can also be moved from the release position to the locking position without interfering with the guard block 110, so that the guard block 110 can be held in the folded position and the locking component 120, in the locking position, can prevent the guard block 110 from leaving the folded position. The drive component 130 is movably arranged on the lateral section 220 and is located in a position corresponding to the locking component 120 in order to drive the locking component 120 to slidably switch between the locking position and the release position.The actuating component 140 is movably arranged on the child safety seat 200 and coupled to the drive component 130 to actuate the drive component 130, which in turn moves the locking component 120. The actuating component 140 is designed to actuate the drive component 130, causing the locking component 120 to move into the locked position when the actuating component 140 is actuated. In this embodiment, the two side guard mechanisms 100 can share the same actuating component 140; that is, there can be only one actuating component 140 connected to both drive components 130 of the two side guard mechanisms 100. However, this embodiment is not limited to this configuration.In another embodiment, for example, there can be two actuating components to connect the two drive components, so that the two drive components can be driven independently of each other by the two actuating components. See Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 to 11. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the child restraint system 1 when the side protection mechanism 100 is in a state between the extended and folded positions according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a B-part of the child restraint system 1 shown in Fig. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the child restraint system 1 with the side protection mechanism 100 folded in, according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a C-part of the child restraint system 1 shown in Fig. 8 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 to Fig.As shown in Figure 11, the lateral guard mechanism 100 further comprises two unfolding elastic components 150 and two return elastic components 160. The two unfolding elastic components 150 are arranged between the guard block 110 and the lateral section 220 to pre-tension the guard block 110 so that it can pivot into the unfolded position. Therefore, the guard block 110 can automatically pivot out and be held in the unfolded position by a resulting elastic force from the two unfolding elastic components 150. The two return elastic components 160 are arranged between the drive component 130 and the lateral section 220 to pre-tension the drive component 130 so that the locking component 120 can be moved from the locked position to the released position. In this embodiment, the extending elastic component 150 and the restoring elastic component 160 can be torsion springs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the extending elastic component or the restoring elastic component can, for example, also be a leaf spring. The number of extending elastic components 150 and restoring elastic components 160 is also not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment, the lateral protection mechanism can, for example, comprise an extending elastic component and a restoring elastic component. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5, and 10 to 11, the lateral guard mechanism 100 further comprises a mounting base 170. The mounting base 170 is fixedly arranged on the lateral section 220. The guard block 110 comprises a pivotable shaft 110a. The guard block 110 is pivotably arranged on the mounting base 170 about the pivot axis 110a. The two elastic components 150 for unfolding are arranged on the pivot axis 110a, and the two ends of each elastic component 150 for unfolding abut the guard block 110 and the mounting base 170, respectively, so that the guard block 110 is pivotably moved into the unfolded position by the two elastic components 150 for unfolding. The locking component 120 is arranged to be slidable within the mounting base 170 and can be moved back and forth relative to the protective block 110 so that it can be detached from the protective block 110.The drive component 130 comprises a drive pivot shaft 130a. The drive component 130 is pivotably arranged within the mounting base 170 by means of the drive pivot shaft 130a and is coupled to the actuating component 140. The drive component 130 is located on a side of the locking component 120 facing away from the guard block 110. The two restoring elastic components 160 are arranged on the drive pivot shaft 130a, and two ends of the restoring elastic component 160 each abut the drive component 130 and the base 170, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the drive component 130 is pre-tensioned to pivotally return to its original position in order to move the locking component 120 from the locked position to the released position. When the lateral guard mechanism 100 is switched to the locked state, as shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 160, the drive component 130 is pivotally returned to its original position.As shown in Figure 11, the drive component 130 drives the locking component 120 to be moved into the locking position, so that the guard block 110 is prevented from leaving the folded position. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 to 5, the mounting base 170 comprises a mounting section 171 and a mounting section 172 projecting from the mounting section 171. The mounting base 170 is fixedly arranged with the lateral section 171 on the lateral section 220. The guard block 110 is pivotally connected to the mounting section 172. The locking component 120 and the drive component 130 are arranged within the mounting section 172. The drive component 130 can move the locking component 120 so that it projects out of the mounting section 172 and abuts the guard block 110. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 to 3, a first end 1101 of the protective block 110 is configured to absorb an impact force, and two pivot lugs 111 project from a second end 1102 of the protective block 110 opposite the first end of the protective block 110 and are spaced apart from each other. A positioning rib 112 projects from the second end 1102 of the protective block 110 and is located between the two pivot lugs 111. The positioning rib 112 extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot shaft 110a. The two pivot lugs 111 pivotably engage the mounting section 172, which is located outside the fastening section 172, via the pivot shaft 110a. The locking component 120 can protrude from the mounting section 172 and rest against the positioning rib 112. More precisely, a receiving chamber 1721 is formed within the mounting section 172. A through-hole 1722 is formed in a wall of the mounting section 172 and communicates with the receiving chamber 1721. The locking component 120 is slidably housed within the receiving chamber 1721. One direction of movement of the locking component 120 is essentially perpendicular to a pivot axis of the pivot axis 110a of the guard block 110. The locking component 120 can be moved through the through-hole 1722 to protrude from the mounting base 170 and abut the guard block 110. The drive component 130 is housed within the receiving chamber 1721, and an outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130 abuts the locking component 120.The drive component 130 is pivotably connected to the mounting section 172 via the drive pivot shaft 130a, and a pivot axis of the drive pivot shaft 130a runs essentially parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot shaft 110a of the guard block 110. Furthermore, the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130 is coupled to the actuating component 140, so that the actuating component 140 can cause the drive component 130 to pivot when the actuating component 140 is actuated. When the actuating component 140 is actuated to drive the drive component 130 to pivot, the two restoring elastic components 160 are elastically deformed, so that the drive component 130 is pre-tensioned by the two deformed restoring elastic components 160 to pivot.When the actuating component 140 is actuated to drive the drive component 130 to pivot, the locking component 120 is driven by the drive component 130 to be moved into the locking position, and when the two elastically deformed restoring elastic components 160 drive the drive component 130 to pivot back, the locking component 120 can be moved from the locking position to the release position. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 to 11, the locking component 120 comprises a positioning projection 121 and a stop projection 122. The positioning projection 121 is located at a position corresponding to the positioning rib 112 and projects along the displacement direction of the locking component 120 toward the guard block 110. The stop projection 122 projects along the displacement direction of the locking component 120 toward the drive component 130; that is, the feed direction of the stop projection 122 is opposite to the feed direction of the positioning projection 121. The positioning projection 121 can pass through the through-hole 1722 to protrude from the mounting base 170 and abut the protective block 110. The stop projection 122 abuts the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130. Furthermore, the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130 is arc-shaped, and a positioning recess 132 is formed on the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130 and extends along one direction of rotation of the drive component 130 in order to engage separably with the stop projection 122 of the locking component 120. In particular, when the locking component 120 is in the release position, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the stop projection 122 engages in the positioning recess 132.The drive component 130 can pivot to release the stop projection 122 from the positioning recess 132 due to the structural design of the descending positioning recess 132, in order to move the locking component 120 towards the guard block 110 into the locking position to abut against the positioning rib 112, which can prevent the guard block 110 from leaving the folded position when the guard block 110 is in the folded position. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 to 11, the actuating component 140 is movably arranged on the child safety seat 200. The actuating component 140 can drive the drive component 130 to pivot, in turn driving the locking component 120 into the locking position when the actuating component 140 is actuated. Therefore, a user or caregiver can fold at least one of the two protective blocks 110 into the folded position as needed and then actuate the actuating component 140 to prevent the folded protective block 110 from leaving the folded position. In this embodiment, the actuating component 140 can preferably be combined with a crotch strap of the harness system. Therefore, the crotch strap actuates the actuating component 140 to drive the drive component 130, so that the locking component 120 is moved towards the locking component when the crotch strap is fastened. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment, the actuating component can, for example, also be arranged on any other component of the child safety seat, so that the actuating component can be forced by a child sitting on the seat section to drive the drive component to move the locking component into the locking position when the child is sitting on the seat section. Since the actuating component 140 is located remotely from the drive component 130, the lateral protective mechanism 100 in this embodiment also includes a connecting component 180. The two ends of the connecting component 180 are each connected to the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130 and the actuating component 140, respectively. Therefore, the actuating component 140 can cause the drive component 130 to pivot via the connecting component 180 when the actuating component 140 is actuated. Preferably, the connecting element can be a cable. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the connecting component can, for example, be a flexible or elastic cable. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the actuating component can be directly connected to the drive component, and the connecting component can be omitted. The actuation of the side safety mechanism 100 is described in detail below. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the safety block 110 is driven to pivot into the unfolded position by the two unfolding elastic components 150, regardless of whether a child is sitting in the seat section 210 or not, as long as the actuating component 140 is not actuated. Furthermore, the locking component 120 is in the release position at this moment, and the positioning recess 132 engages in the stop projection. Once a child has taken a seat on the seat section 210, the protective block 110 can be operated to maintain the unfolded position or fold it into the folded position, depending on practical requirements. To fold in the protective block 110, it can be actuated to pivot the pivot shaft 110a so that it is housed in the receiving slot 211. This means the protective block 110 can be driven to pivot from the unfolded position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to the folded position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, by means of the folding force. When the protective block 110 is in the folded position, it fits into the lateral section 220. During this process, the two foldable elastic components 150 are elastically deformed. The step strap of the belt system can then be attached to actuate the actuating component 140, which in turn drives the drive component 130 to pivot through the connecting component 180, releasing the stop projection 122 from the positioning recess 132. This drives the locking component 120 to move from the release position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, to the locking position, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. When the locking component 120 is in the locking position, the positioning projection 121 extends through the through-hole 1722 to protrude from the mounting base 170 and abut the positioning rib 112 of the guard block 110, thus preventing the guard block 110 from leaving the folded position.As long as the crotch strap is fastened, the locking component 120 can be held in the locked position to prevent the protective block 110 from unfolding. For example, when the child restraint system 1 is installed in a vehicle, the protective block 110, which is furthest from a vehicle door, can be folded into the retracted position and held in place to save space. When the step strap is released, the actuating component 140 is no longer actuated. At this moment, the two resetting components 160 can pivot the drive component 130 to align the positioning recess 132 with the stop projection 122, so that the locking component 120 does not abut the outer circumference 131 of the drive component 130, allowing the locking component 120 to be moved from the locked position to the released position. Subsequently, the two elastic components 150 can move the guard block 110 into the unfolded position, and the locking component 120 can be moved into the released position by the guard block 110 during its unfolding. On the other hand, when the crotch strap is attached to actuate the actuating component 140, in order to drive the drive component 130 to pivot through the connecting component 180 in a state where the guard block 110 is in the unfolded position, the positioning projection 121, which passes through the through-hole 1722 to protrude from the mounting base 170, does not abut the positioning rib 112 of the guard block 110. That is, the locking component 120 in the locked position does not interfere with the guard block 110 in the unfolded position, so that the guard block 110 can be held in the unfolded position. Therefore, a user or caregiver can actuate one of the two guard blocks 110 in the unfolded position and easily actuate the other of the two guard blocks 110 in the folded position. In contrast to the prior art, in the present invention, the protective block can be automatically pivoted into the unfolded position by the elastic component, unless it is forced into the folded position by a folding force or held back from the folded position by a locking component. This is done to reduce lateral impact forces in the event of emergency braking or a vehicle accident. It not only simplifies operation but also prevents a user or caregiver from forgetting to unfold the protective block, thus ensuring the proper functioning of the lateral protection mechanism. When the actuating component is activated, it drives the drive component, which in turn drives the locking component to move into the locked position, preventing the protective block from leaving the folded position.Therefore, it offers a convenient way to save space by folding the guard block into the folded position and then actuating the locking component to prevent the guard block from leaving the folded position, depending on practical requirements. When the locking component is moved from the release position to the locking position, the locking component and the guard block do not interfere in the unfolded position, allowing the guard block to be held in the unfolded position, thus simplifying use. The person skilled in the art will readily recognize that numerous modifications and changes to the apparatus and the method can be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be interpreted as being limited only by the scales and boundaries of the appended claims.

Claims

Lateral protection mechanism (100) designed for a child safety seat (200), characterized in that the lateral protection mechanism (100) comprises: - a protective block (110) which is pivotably arranged on a lateral section (220) of the child safety seat (200) and can be pivotably switched between an unfolded position and a folded-in position;- a locking component (120) that is slidably switchable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the guard block (110) can be pivoted between the unfolded position and the folded-in position when the locking component (120) is in the release position, the locking component (120) can be moved between the release position and the locking position when the guard block (110) is in the unfolded position or in the folded-in position, and the guard block (110) is retained from leaving the folded-in position when the locking component (120) and the guard block (110) are in the locking position or in the folded-in position;- an actuating component (140) which is movably arranged on the child safety seat (200) to drive the locking component (120) to move it into the locking position when the actuating component (140) is actuated.; Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a restoring elastic component (160) which is pre-tensioned to allow the displacement of the locking component (120) into the release position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a drive component (130) which is movably arranged on the lateral section (220) of the child safety seat (200) to drive the locking component (120) to slidably switch between the locking position and the release position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating component (140) is coupled to the drive component (130) to drive the locking component (120) to move into the locking position when the actuating component (140) is actuated. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking component is slidably arranged on the lateral section (220) of the child safety seat (200). Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating component and the locking component are configured such that when the protective block (110) is folded into the folded position and the actuating component (140) is subsequently actuated, the protective block (110) is retained from leaving the folded position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the restoring elastic component (160) is arranged between the locking component (120) and the lateral section (220) to pre-tension the locking component (120) to move it from the locking position to the release position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating component (140) is arranged on a seat section (210) of the child safety seat (200). Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a drive component (130) which is movably arranged on the lateral section (220) of the child safety seat (200) and is coupled to the actuating component (140), wherein the actuating component (140) drives the drive component (130) to drive the locking component (120) to move it into the locking position when the actuating component (140) is actuated. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive component (130) is coupled to the actuating component such that the actuating component (140) drives the drive component (130) to pivot when the actuating component (140) is actuated. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating component (140) and / or the drive component (130) and / or the locking component (120) are separate components. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection block has a proximal section and a distal section, wherein when the protection block is in the folded-in position and the locking component is in the locking position, the locking component rests against the proximal section of the protection block. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a receiving slot (221) is formed on the lateral section (220) and the protection mechanism (100) can be pivotably received within the receiving slot (221). Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein when the actuating component (140) is actuated the restoring elastic component (160) is elastically deformed. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating component (140) is arranged on a seat section (210) of the child safety seat (200). Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating component (140) is configured to drive the locking component (120) to move into the locking position when the actuating component (140) is actuated. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection block (110) is automatically pivotable and foldable. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a folding elastic component (150) arranged between the protective block (110) and the lateral section (220) for pre-tensioning the protective block (110) in order to pivot it into the unfolded position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a receiving chamber formed within the mounting base, wherein a through hole is formed in the mounting base. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking component is housed in the receiving chamber and the locking component passes through the through-hole to come into contact with the protective block when the locking component is in the locking position. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking component (120) in the locking position is configured to lock the protective block (110) in the folded-in position by a positive locking action. Lateral protective mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the locking position the protective block (110) is prevented from unfolding by a stop. Lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking component (120) is arranged at least partially within a chamber of the lateral section (220). Child safety seat comprising two lateral sections (220), a seat section (210) and a lateral protection mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

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