Child restraint with harness adjustment
The child restraint's adjustable harness system addresses the complexity of strap adjustment by allowing simultaneous adjustment of strap spacing and height, ensuring proper fit and safety for children of different sizes without manual rethreading.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DOREL AUSTRALIA
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing child restraints require complex and error-prone manual adjustment of shoulder straps, which can lead to improper fitting and reduced safety for children of varying sizes, especially for newborns and premature infants.
A vehicular child restraint with an adjustable harness system that allows for simultaneous adjustment of shoulder strap spacing and height through a mechanism involving a headrest and backrest member, using components that move relative to each other to accommodate different child sizes without the need for rethreading straps.
Provides a user-friendly and accurate adjustment of shoulder strap positioning, ensuring proper fit and safety for children of varying sizes without the risk of human error during installation.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Cross reference to related application This application is a divisional of Australian patent application no. 2020220061, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 5 Field of the invention This invention relates generally to vehicular child restraints and more particularly to a child restraint that includes harness adjustment. The term ‘child restraints’ includes child’s car seats, booster seats, convertible seats and rearward facing restraints such as baby carriers or capsules. However, the present invention finds particular application in child restraints that have 10 inbuilt harness arrangements. Background of the invention Several types of child restraint systems for vehicles, notably child’s car seats and baby carriers or capsules, include an inbuilt harness assembly. Convertible booster seats often provide for a harness, which may be mounted separately in the vehicle and may or may not be 15 engageable with the booster seat. The usual form of inbuilt harness assembly in Australia is a so called 5 or 6-point configuration that includes a single or dual crotch strap with a female buckle component and a pair of shoulder straps. The shoulder straps are fixed in position at lap locations and extend through respective slots in the back portion of the restraint body, which is typically a moulded shell, or through a vertically moveable headrest. The shoulder straps carry male tongue 20 components at intermediate positions that engage with the female buckle. Generally, there are two different ways that restraints are designed to provide adjustment of inbuilt harness assemblies. Firstly, the restraint body is provided with respective arrays of vertically spaced slots through which the shoulder straps can be selectively passed to suit the size of the child who will ordinarily occupy the restraint: manufacturers typically recommend a 25 specific height relationship between the child’s shoulders and the selected slots. Alternatively, slots are provided in a headrest portion, or an attached backrest portion, that is vertically adjustable to raise or lower the strap location. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 A final adjustment fit is achieved by means of a pull strap that is connected to the shoulder straps in a position behind or under the restraint body and emerges from an opening at the front of the body for being gripped by hand and drawn outwardly to selectively adjust the shoulder straps to a tighter fit. A locking device maintains this fit unless it is released by a push 5 or lift actuator to allow retraction of the pull strap when the shoulder straps are drawn forwardly. For restraints with arrays of vertically spaced slots, the shoulder straps are typically connected to the pull strap via an arrangement that permits disengagement of each shoulder strap to alter the slot of the restraint body through which it passes. Children of different sizes need different types of restraints. For rearward facing child 10 restraints of Type A in Australian Standards, a built-in 5 or 6 point harness is used. Type A restraints are designed to accommodate newborns through to 6, 12 or 30 months, depending on the design. For forward facing child restraints of Type B in Australian Standards, a built-in 5 or 6 point harness is used. Type B restraints are designed to accommodate children from 6 months to 4 years of age. Type A / B are commonly referred to as ‘convertible car seats’ and can 15 accommodate a newborn through to a 4 year old. As the child restraint shell can be designed to accommodate a child up to 4 years of age using the same harness arrangement, padded newborn inserts can be used that provide additional support to the newborn or toddler by padding around their head and raising them up so that the harness fits correctly. In Type A restraints, harness shoulder straps should be level with or slightly above a 20 baby’s shoulders. Even in Type A1 restraints, designed for newborn to 6 months, and with an insert, the harness may not be adjustable to accommodate a very small baby, such as low birth weight or premature infants. Snug shoulder straps are important to keep a baby’s head and body positioned correctly, preventing their head falling forward and affecting their breathing, whilst simultaneously containing their body correctly during a crash. 25 To provide adjustable shoulder strap positioning, there are child restraints that include two columns of slots in the backrest portion of the seat shell. Each column has a series of slots at spaced apart heights, such that the lowermost pair of slots can be used for the smallest baby and the uppermost pair of slots can be used for the largest child. To accommodate the different widths of shoulders, the lowermost pair of slots are positioned closer together than the next 30 highest pair of slots, with the uppermost pair of slots being positioned the furthest apart. The two rows of slots therefore form a generally “V” shaped configuration. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 However, the disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the child restraint needs to be removed from the vehicle and the harness shoulder straps disconnected, removed and reinserted into different slots, and reconnected to attend to adjustment. Covers may need to be removed and replaced to allow straps to be removed. There may be a risk that straps become twisted during 5 reinsertion. The difficulty involved with this adjustment could cause parents to delay adjustment, leaving shoulder straps positioned too low. Additionally, these arrangements may require the shoulder straps to be positioned over a rear bar for correct installation. If the correct positioning is not followed, the harness may not provide the required safety support. Furthermore, this process contains opportunity for human error if the child restraint requires re-installation. 10 It is therefore desired to provide a child restraint with harness adjustment that is more user friendly. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and / or combined 15 with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art. Summary of the invention According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a vehicular child restraint, including: a shell having a seat portion and a back portion extending generally upwardly from the 20 seat portion; a headrest connected to the back portion to be adjustable with respect to the back portion between at least an upper position and a lower position; a seat harness having a first and a second shoulder strap; a harness guide system including, a first portion for receiving the first shoulder strap and 25 a second portion for receiving the second shoulder strap, the harness guide system configured to allow adjustment of the spacing of the first and the second shoulder straps between a wider configuration and a narrower configuration; 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 whereby the movement of the headrest between the upper and lower positions permits selective movement between the wider and narrower configurations of the shoulder straps. The first and second portions preferably define openings through which the shoulder straps extend. The shoulder strap openings may be defined so as to have at least two 5 configurations or positions to define the spacing for the wider configuration and the narrower configuration of the shoulder straps. Intermediate configurations may also be provided. In an embodiment, the harness guide system may include an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be moveable between at least two configurations including an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The adjustment mechanism may comprise 10 a left component and a right component. The left component and the right component may be moveable. The left component and the right component may be connected together such that their inner ends overlap in a central region. The overlapping may be telescopic. A spring may bias the left and right components into the extended configuration. The left and right components would typically each include the first and second portions with respective shoulder strap 15 openings. As the left and right components move towards each other, the two openings move towards each other, narrowing the distance between the shoulder straps. The outer ends of the left and right components are preferably guided in a first set of slots. The slots may run along the sides of the back portion. The distance between the slots at the upper end of the slots is wider than the distance between the slots at the lower end of the slots, 20 such that the narrowing of the opposing slot distance forces the left and right components towards each other. The first set of slots may have a spacing of two different distances, with one sloped step at a position between the upper and lower ends. Alternatively there may be multiple steps between the upper and lower ends. In another embodiment, the first set of slots may be 25 continuously sloped from the upper end to the lower end, such that the distance between the slots gradually decreases. There may be a latch mechanism that prevents the harness adjustment mechanism from moving past particular points along the slots. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 The first set of slots may be in two spaced apart side rails. The side rails may also include a second set of slots that guide the headrest, the distance between the second set of slots typically remains constant between the upper and lower ends. The side rails may have a series of spaced apertures engageable by moveable pins 5 associated with a headrest adjustment mechanism to lock the headrest at particular heights. The locking of movement of the headrest subsequently prevents the harness adjustment mechanism from moving along the first set of slots. Advantageously, when the headrest is in the upper position, the shoulder straps are in the wider configuration and when the headrest is in the lower position, the shoulder straps are in the 10 narrower configuration. Advantageously, movement of the headrest to the lower position causes the harness guide system to narrow the spacing between the shoulder straps, and movement of the headrest to the upper position causes the harness guide system to widen the spacing between the shoulder straps. There may additionally be a member connected to and positioned below the headrest that 15 includes harness apertures of a set spaced distance and set dimension. The harness apertures may have an inner and an outer edge. In an embodiment, the member sits in front of the adjustment mechanism, whereby movement of the headrest to the lower position causes the adjustment mechanism to obstruct the outer portions of the harness apertures to narrow the spacing of the shoulder straps. Movement of the headrest to the upper position causes the adjustment 20 mechanism to obstruct the inner portions of the harness apertures to broaden the spacing of the shoulder straps. In an embodiment, the member may be a backrest member. According to some embodiments, the present invention provides simultaneous adjustment of the shoulder strap locations in terms of both their height with respect to the seat portion and the width between them. 25 In another embodiment, the harness guide system may include an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be moveable between at least two configurations including a wider configuration and a narrower configuration. The adjustment mechanism preferably comprises a left component and a right component that would typically each include one of the shoulder strap openings. The left component and the right component may be moveable. As the 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 left and right components move towards each other, the two openings move towards each other, narrowing the distance between the shoulder straps. The harness guide system may also include a pair of tracks in the back portion, the tracks being configured to have lower ends that are closer to each other than the upper ends, whereby as the left component and right component move 5 down the tracks, the shoulder strap openings move towards each other, and whereby as the left component and right component move up the tracks, the shoulder strap openings move away from each other. There may additionally be a backrest member connected to and positioned below the headrest that includes harness apertures of a set spaced distance and set dimension. The harness 10 apertures may have an inner and an outer edge. Preferably, the left component and right component extend through the harness apertures to engage with the tracks located behind. The left component and right component move within the harness apertures from an outer position to an inner position as the components move along the tracks. In such an embodiment, as the headrest is moved between the upper position and the lower position, the left and right 15 components are forced to move closer together reducing the width between the shoulder straps. Accordingly, as the headrest is moved between the lower position and the upper position, the left and right components are forced to move further apart increasing the width between the shoulder straps. In another embodiment, the movement of the left and right components is independent of 20 the movement of the headrest and may be manually facilitated. In such an embodiment, the location of the headrest may limit movement of the left and right components to predefined positions. As used herein and except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to 25 exclude further additions, components, integers or steps. Brief description of the drawings Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child restraint according to a first embodiment without a cover or harness; Figure 2 is a front view of the child restraint of the first embodiment with the headrest in the uppermost position; 5 Figure 3 is a front view of the child restraint of the first embodiment with the headrest in a lowered position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the child restraint of the first embodiment, with representative shoulder straps, and the headrest and backrest member removed, with the harness guide system in the uppermost position; 10 Figure 5 is the same a Figure 4, with the shoulder straps removed; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional perspective bottom view of the harness guide system in the uppermost position; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective bottom view of the harness guide system in the lowermost position; 15 Figure 8 is a cross-section bottom view of a portion of the harness guide system in the uppermost position; Figure 9 is a cross-section bottom view of a portion of the harness guide system in the lowermost position; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a side rail; 20 Figure 11 is a perspective view of the harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism in a lowered position; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism in the lowermost position; Figure 13 is a similar representation to Figure 4, in the lowermost position; 25 Figure 14 is a close up view of the latch mechanism in the lowered position; 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 Figure 15 is a close up view of the latch mechanism in the lowermost position; Figure 16 is the same as Figure 3; Figure 17 is a front view of the child restraint with the headrest in a lowermost position; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a child restraint according to a second embodiment 5 without a cover or harness and the headrest in the uppermost position; Figure 19 is a perspective view of the child restraint of the Figure 18 with the headrest in the lowermost position; Figure 20 is a front view of the child restraint of the second embodiment with the headrest in the uppermost position; 10 Figure 21 is a front view of the child restraint of the second embodiment with the headrest in the lowermost position; Figure 22 is an exploded view of the child restraint; Figure 23 is an exploded view of the headrest and adjustment mechanism components; Figure 24 is a cross-sectional side view of the child restraint showing the headrest 15 adjustment mechanism with the headrest in the uppermost position; and Figure 25 is a cross-sectional side view of the child restraint of Figure 24 with the headrest in the lowermost position; Figure 26 is a front view of the child restraint shell; Figure 27 is a rear view of the child restrain shell; 20 Figure 28 is a rear perspective view of the left component of the adjustment mechanism of the second embodiment; Figure 29 is a front view of the headrest and adjustment mechanism; and Figure 29A is a close up view of the left component shown in Figure 29. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 Detailed description of an embodiment A vehicular child restraint 10 according to a first embodiment is illustrated in Figure 1 and is a capsule of Type A configuration that sits on and locks into a base (not shown) on the vehicle seat. The capsule 10 includes a moulded shell 12. The shell 12 includes a back portion 5 14, which extends upwardly from the rear of a seat portion 16. A headrest 18 is provided that moves up and down with respect to the back portion 14. Underlying the headrest 18 is a backrest member 20 that moves up and down with the headrest. The shell 12 would usually be appropriately covered with fabric and padding for comfort and safety. The capsule includes a handle 22, such that it can be removed from the vehicle and carrier with the baby inside. 10 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the headrest 18 and backrest member 20 are able to move up and down with respect to the back portion 14 from an uppermost position to fit a larger child (Figure 2) to a lowered position to fit a smaller child (Figure 3). The lowered position shown in Figure 3 would typically be sized to fit an average size and weight newborn baby. Sitting behind the headrest 18 and backrest member 20 are harness shoulder straps 24, 26. 15 Figure 4 shows the headrest 18 and backrest member 20 removed to show the harness guide system according to the present embodiment. The harness guide system includes a first left component 28 that has a left portion with an opening 30 for receiving the left shoulder strap 24. A second right component 32 has a right portion with an opening 34 for receiving the right shoulder strap 26. Once passed through the openings 30, 34, the shoulder straps pass through 20 harness apertures 38, 40 in the backrest member 20 (see Figure 1). Figure 5 shows the harness guide system with the harness removed for visibility. The first left component 28 and second right component 32 are joined to and above the headrest adjustment mechanism to be described further below. The first left component 28 and second right component 32 are part of an adjustment mechanism such that they are joined together so 25 that their inners ends overlap in a central region 41 and can be moved between an extended position and a retracted position. Figures 6 and 7 show cross-sectional perspective bottom views of the extended position and a retracted position. As can be seen in Figure 6, the backrest member 20 has harness apertures 38, 40 of a set distance apart. The apertures 38, 40 each have an inner edge 42 and an 30 outer edge 44. Sitting behind the backrest member 20 is the first left component 28 and second 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 right component 32. The right component 32 includes a sleeve 46 at its inner end. The left component 28 includes a smaller tube 48 that slides inside the sleeve 46. As shown in Figure 7, the tube 48 can telescopically slide within sleeve 46 to a retracted position. When in the extended position shown in Figure 6, the head 50 of the tube 48 and the head 5 52 of the sleeve 46 obstruct the inner edge 42 of the apertures 38, 40. The shoulder straps cannot be positioned at a narrow spacing, forcing the shoulder straps to be positioned near the outer edges 44 of the apertures 38, 40. When in the retracted position shown in Figure 7, the head 50 of the tube 48 and the head 52 of the sleeve 46 do not obstruct the inner edge 42 of the apertures 38, 40. Instead, the feet 54, 56 obstruct the outer edge 44 of the apertures 38, 40. The shoulder 10 straps cannot be positioned at a widest spacing, forcing the shoulder straps to be positioned near the inner edges 42 of the apertures 38, 40. Figures 8 and 9 show the spring 58 in position within the sleeve 46, where it is held on a spigot 60 inside the head 52 of the sleeve 46. The spring 58 biases the first and second components apart as shown in Figure 8. 15 Running down the two sides of the seat portion are side rails 62, positioned as shown in Figure 5. A side rail 62 is shown in Figure 10 and is generally elongate with a first longitudinal slot 64 and second longitudinal slot 66. The first and second slots are generally adjacent, spaced a minimal amount apart. The second slot 66 runs the full length of the side rail 62 and is sized to receive pins 68 that extend outwards from the sides of the headrest adjustment mechanism, to be 20 described further below. The first slot 64 runs a proportion of the length of the second slot 66 and is sized to receive pins 70 extending from the outer ends of the first and second components 28, 32. The first slot, according to the embodiment illustrated, has two sections 72, 74 of different depths with a ramp 76 between them. The first section 72 is deeper and located closer to the upper of the back portion 14. The second section 74 is shallower and is located further 25 from the upper of the back portion 14. When the pins 70 are in the first deeper section 72 the opposing first slots 64 are positioned further apart, with the spring biasing the first and second components 28, 32 apart. As the first and second components 28, 32 are moved downwardly, the pins 70 pass over the ramp 76, pushing the pins 70 and forcing the first and second components 28, 32 together against the spring bias until the pins sit within the second section 74 and the first 30 and second components 28, 32 are held in the retracted position. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 The second slot 66 has spaced apart apertures 78 into which the pins 68 can be lockingly received. Figures 11 and 12 show the harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism 80. When a lever 82 is pulled upwardly from behind the headrest 18, the mechanism 80 translates the pins 68 inwardly to disengage from the apertures 78 allowing the headrest 18, 5 backrest member 20 and harness guide system to move up and down guided in the slots 64, 66. The lever 82 can be accessed within recess 84 in the back portion 14. Once the lever 82 is released, the pins 68 translate outwardly and lock into an aligned aperture 78, locking the height. Figure 11 shows the harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism 80 in a lowered position similar to that shown in Figure 3. Figure 12 shows the harness guide system 10 and the headrest adjustment mechanism 80 in a lowermost position, whereby the first and second components 28, 32 are retracted and the openings 38, 40 are located closer together. This is the position suitable for low birth weight babies. Figure 13 shows this lowermost position with the harness shoulder straps included. As can be seen, the shoulder straps pass over a rear bar located internally in the back portion 14 and 15 then sit behind the headrest 18. The harness guide system lowers along the shoulder straps 24, 26 and the shoulder straps do not need to be removed or rethreaded by a user to adjust the height at which the straps extend through the backrest member 20. The harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism therefore have a number of heights associated with the spaced apertures 78 in the second set of slots 66. An 20 uppermost position is shown in Figure 2, a lowered position is shown in Figure 3. When in the lowered position, a latch 86 on the backrest member 20 abuts against a catch 88 on the back portion 14, as shown in Figure 14. To move into the lowermost position shown in Figure 13, a latch 86 needs to be lifted over the top of the catch 88 to the lower side, as shown in Figure 15. The exact arrangement of the latch mechanism is not important, it may require lifting, pushing or 25 any other sort of engagement / disengagement means to prevent movement past a defined point. The latch may or may not be present, but may be required by particular Standards, to ensure the lowermost position is only used for low birth weight babies. Once the latch mechanism is overcome, the harness guide system and the headrest adjustment mechanism can move towards the lowermost position, these two positions being 30 represented in Figures 16 and 17. 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 An alternative embodiment not illustrated, could utilise the same arrangement as the first embodiment that requires a separate step of activating the harness guide system. For example, where a button with a loaded spring pushes the first and second components 28, 32 apart into a widest position, which is manually triggered. Rather than being caused by movement of the 5 headrest, the movement of the headrest facilitates the movement or permits selective movement between the different positions when the headrest is at certain heights. This prevents a user from locating the shoulder straps too wide or too narrow for particular heights. Figures 18 to 30 show a second embodiment of the invention. A convertible car seat 100 is shown that may be used in both a forward and rearward orientation. An inbuilt harness is 10 provided such that the seat can be used for infants and toddlers. The orientation shown in the drawings is forward facing. The seat 100 includes a shell 112 having a back portion 114 and a seat portion 116. A headrest 118 with underlying backrest member 120 are moveable with respect to the back portion 114 between an uppermost position (as shown in Figure 18) and a lowermost position (as 15 shown in Figure 19) to accommodate infants and toddlers of different heights. This embodiment also includes a harness guide system that incorporates an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a left component 128 and a right component 132, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. The left and right components sit within harness apertures 138, 140 in the backrest member 120, such that they move upwardly and downwardly as the 20 headrest 118 moves. As can be seen in Figure 20, harness apertures 138, 140 are wider than the left and right components and when the headrest is in the uppermost position, the left and right components 128, 132 sit towards the outside of the harness apertures (Figure 20). When the headrest is in the lowermost position (Figure 21), the left and right components 128, 132 sit towards the inside of the harness apertures. When harness straps (not shown) are threaded 25 through the strap openings 130, 134 and through the harness apertures 138, 140, the straps are positioned closer together in the lowermost position than in the uppermost position. Figure 22 shows an exploded view of the headrest and backrest. The headrest adjustment is different to the first embodiment, but is a known headrest adjustment arrangement. It will be appreciate by a person skilled in the art that most headrest adjustment arrangements could be 30 used with the present invention. In this embodiment, headrest rail slots 164 are provided in the 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 back portion 114. The headrest 118 is attached to the backrest member 120, as shown in Figure 23. Figures 24 and 25 are cross-sectional side views that show the ratchet arrangement within the rail slots 164. A horizontal bar 119 engages with the teeth 121 to lock a position of the headrest. The bar 119 is bias into engagement by a spring. A release mechanism is provided that 5 pulls the bar 119 out of engagement with the teeth against the spring bias allowing the headrest 118 to be raised or lowered. Release of the mechanism then permits the spring to bias the bar 119 into engagement with teeth at the desired height. Figures 26 and 27 show a central brace 165 in the back portion 114. On either side of the central brace 165 is a longitudinal track or slot 169. The slots 169 are angled to form a V-shaped 10 configuration such that the lower ends 171 of the slots are closer together than the upper ends 173. Figure 27 has been shown with the left and right components 128, 132 in position, with the backrest 120 omitted for clarity. Figure 28 shows the left component 128. The right component 132 is a mirror image version of the left component. Component 128 includes a strap opening 134 that extends through 15 a face plate 175. Protruding from the rear of the face plate 175 are catches 177 that hold the components within the harness apertures 138, 140 in the backrest member 120. In the embodiment illustrated there are four catches, two upper and two lower. The catches 177 are sized to prevent forward and rearward movement, whilst allowing lateral sliding within the harness apertures. Extending from either side of the catches are stops 179, which protrude a 20 further distance than the catches, such that they extend fully through the harness apertures to engage within the slots 169 in the back portion 114 of the seat shell 112. This has been illustrated in the rear view of Figure 27. The stops 179 slide up and down the slots 169. As can be seen in Figures 29 and 29A, the face plates 175 of left and right components 128, 132 sit within shallow recesses 181 within the backrest member 120. The catches 177 lock 25 into the harness apertures 138, 140, allowing the face plates 175 to slide left and right within the recesses 181 (when not attached to the back portion 114). Figure 29 shows how the left and right components 128, 132 would sit against the outer edges of the recesses 181 and harness apertures, such as when the headrest is in the uppermost position. As the headrest is lowered, the stops 179 slide within the slots 169, with the outer sides of 30 the slots 169 forming the leading edge that forces the left and rights components 128, 132 2024227530 22 Oct 2024 inwards towards the central brace 165. When at the lowermost position, as shown in Figure 21, the left and right components 128, 132 sit against the inner edges of the recesses 181 and harness apertures, configuring the shoulder straps that extend through them closer together to accommodate a smaller infant. 5 To adjust as the child grows, the headrest 118 is raised and the left and right components 128, 132 slide within the slots 169. The inner sides of the slots 169 form the leading edge and force the left and right components 128, 132 outwardly away from the central brace 165, such that the left and right components 128, 132 and the shoulder straps threaded through them will sit further towards the centre of the recesses 181 and harness apertures. Once in the uppermost 10 position, the widest configuration is reached. Another embodiment envisaged, but not illustrated, involves the ability to manually adjust the spacing of the left and right components. In such an arrangement the slots in the back portion may be parallel rather than V-shaped or may be V-shaped, but wider than the slots illustrated. A mechanism may be utilised that allows for multiple predetermined widths between 15 the left and right components at set heights. The lateral movement of the left and right components may be similar to that described with respect to the second embodiment, but where latches were provided to allow them to be manually moved to a wider or narrower position within the slot. The position of the headrest would prevent movement of the components to other than predetermined positions, such that inappropriate configurations could not be achieved that 20 put the child’s safety requirements at risk. The present invention provides child restraints with user friendly adjustment of the distance between the shoulder straps as the height of the shoulder straps and the headrest are raised and lowered. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends 25 to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.
Claims
1. A vehicular child restraint, including:a shell having a seat portion and a back portion extending generally upwardly from the seat portion;5 a headrest connected to the back portion to be adjustable with respect to the back portionbetween at least an upper position and a lower position;a seat harness having a first and a second shoulder strap; anda harness guide system including, a first portion for receiving the first shoulder strap and a second portion for receiving the second shoulder strap, the harness guide system10 configured to allow adjustment of the spacing of the first and the second shoulder strapsbetween a wider configuration and a narrower configuration;whereby the movement of the headrest between the upper and lower positions permits selective movement between the wider and narrower configurations of the shoulder straps.15 2. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe first and second portions define openings through which the shoulder straps extend.
3. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe harness guide system includes an adjustment mechanism moveable between at least two configurations, an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, and wherein20 the adjustment mechanism comprises a left component and a right component connectedtogether such that their inner ends overlap in a central region.
4. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 3, wherein a spring biases the leftand right components into the extended configuration.
5. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the left and right25 components each include the first and second portions with respective shoulder strapopenings, and whereby, as the left and right components move towards each other, the2024227530 22 Oct 2024two openings move towards each other, narrowing the distance between the shoulder straps.
6. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein theouter ends of the left and right components are guided in a first set of slots, the slots5 running along the sides of the back portion, whereby the distance between the slots at theupper end of the slots is wider than the distance between the slots at the lower end of the slots, such that the narrowing of the opposing slot distance forces the left and right components towards each other.
7. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 6, wherein the first set of slots have10 a spacing of two different distances, with one sloped step at a position between the upperand lower ends.
8. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 6, wherein there are multiple stepsbetween the upper and lower ends.
9. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 6, wherein the first set of slots are15 continuously sloped from the upper end to the lower end, such that the distance betweenthe slots gradually decreases.
10. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein there is a latch mechanism that prevents the harness adjustment mechanism from moving past particular points along the slots.20 11. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein,when the headrest is in the upper position, the shoulder straps are in the wider configuration and when the headrest is in the lower position, the shoulder straps are in the narrower configuration.
12. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 11, wherein movement of the25 headrest to the lower position causes the harness guide system to narrow the spacingbetween the shoulder straps, and movement of the headrest to the upper position causes the harness guide system to widen the spacing between the shoulder straps.2024227530 22 Oct 202413. A vehicular child restraint according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a backrest member connected to and positioned below the headrest that includes harness apertures each having an inner and an outer edge, whereby movement of the headrest to the lower position causes the adjustment mechanism to obstruct the outer 5 portions of the harness apertures to narrow the spacing of the shoulder straps, andmovement of the headrest to the upper position causes the adjustment mechanism to obstruct the inner portions of the harness apertures to broaden the spacing of the shoulder straps.
14. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 1, wherein the harness guide system 10 includes an adjustment mechanism moveable between at least two configurationsincluding a wider configuration and a narrower configuration.
15. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a left component and a right component that each include one of the shoulder strap openings, whereby, as the left and right components move towards 15 each other, the two openings move towards each other, narrowing the distance betweenthe shoulder straps.
16. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the harness guide system includes a pair of tracks in the back portion, the tracks being configured to have lower ends that are closer to each other than the upper ends, whereby as the left 20 component and right component move down the tracks, the shoulder strap openings movetowards each other, and whereby as the left component and right component move up the tracks, the shoulder strap opening move away from each other.
17. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 16, having a backrest member connected to and positioned below the headrest that includes two harness apertures of a 25 set spaced distance and set dimension, each of the harness apertures having an inner andan outer edge, and whereby protrusions of the left and right components extend through respective harness apertures to engage with the tracks located behind.
18. A vehicular child restraint according to claim 17, wherein, as the headrest is moved between the upper position and the lower position, the left and right components 30 are forced to move closer together reducing the width between the shoulder straps, and2024227530 22 Oct 2024wherein, as the headrest is moved between the lower position and the upper position, the left and right components are forced to move further apart increasing the width between the shoulder straps.