CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Abstract

Child safety seat (1) with: a seat part (3) and a backrest part (30) which are connected to each other; a headrest (20) which is slidably connected to the backrest part (30); a first and a second side support (40) which are connected to the backrest part (30) and each project forward from the backrest part (30) on two sides of the backrest part (30), wherein the first and the second side support (40) are arranged such that they are movable with respect to the backrest part (30) in order to change a transverse distance (W) between the first side support (40) and the second side support (40); and a connecting mechanism (10) configured to connect the first and second side supports (40) to the headrest (20), such that the headrest (20) and the first and second side supports (40) are simultaneously movable relative to the backrest section (30) for adjustment, the connecting mechanism (10) further being configured to allow lateral movements of the first and second side supports (40) relative to the backrest section (30) while the headrest (20) remains in its position relative to the backrest section (30); and the connecting mechanism (10) comprising a support element (14) rigidly connected to a rod element (12) and slidably connected to the headrest (20) or the first side support (40);and has a chamfered slot (42) provided on the other of the headrest (20) or the first side support (40), wherein the rod part (12) is slidably connected to the chamfered slot (42).

Description

Cross-reference to related application

[0001] This application claims priority from Chinese patent application No. 202023196815.1 filed on December 25, 2020. Background 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to child safety seats. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0003] A child safety seat is generally used in a vehicle to provide protection and reduce the impact of a rear-end collision on a child. The child safety seat typically comprises a seat portion; a backrest portion with two side panels projecting forward on its left and right sides; and a headrest movable along the backrest portion for height adjustment. Conventionally, the two side panels are rigidly attached to the backrest portion and cannot be appropriately adjusted according to the size of the child sitting in the child safety seat. As a result, the two side panels of the backrest portion cannot always be adjusted to provide adequate lateral support for a child. Furthermore, the child safety seat with the above arrangement has a larger volume, which may not be convenient for transportation or storage.

[0004] From the documents DE 10 2006 043 760 B4 and DE 10 2008 002 822 A1, a child safety seat is known in which an adjustment of the headrest in the vertical direction and, at the same time, an adjustment of the side supports in the transverse direction is realized by means of a sliding connection or sliding movement.

[0005] From the documents DE 10 2017 119 698 B4 and DE 10 2014 100 380 B4, an adjustable child safety seat is known which comprises a seat, a backrest, a headrest which is slidably connected to the backrest, and two side supports which are pivotally connected to the backrest by a connecting mechanism, so that a sliding movement of the headrest in the vertical direction causes respective pivoting movements of the side supports. Brief description of the invention

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing an adjustable child safety seat with a headrest and two side supports with an improved adjustment mechanism.

[0007] This problem is solved by a child safety seat having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to optional further developments.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the child safety seat comprises: a seat part and a backrest part that are connected to each other; a headrest that is slidably connected to the backrest part; first and second side supports that are connected to the backrest part and each protrude forward from the backrest part on two sides of the backrest part, wherein the first and second side supports are configured to be movable with respect to the backrest part to change a transverse distance between the first and second side supports; and a connecting mechanism that is configured to connect the first and second side supports, each to the headrest, such that the headrest and the first and second side supports are simultaneously movable with respect to the backrest part for adjustment. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a child safety seat. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing some construction details of the child safety seat with a connecting mechanism arranged to movably connect two side supports on two sides of a backrest part to a headrest. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the Fig. 2, with the headrest arranged at a highest position. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the connecting mechanism configured to connect the two side supports to the headrest, respectively, and also to allow transverse movements of the two side supports with respect to the backrest portion while the headrest remains in position with respect to the backrest portion. Fig. Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing some construction details of the Fig. 4 shows the connection mechanism. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a child safety seat 1. The child safety seat 1 comprises a seat part 3, a backrest part 30, a headrest 20, and two side supports 40. The seat part 3 and the backrest part 30 are connected to one another and form a seat suitable for accommodating a child. The two side supports 40 are connected to the backrest part 30 and protrude forward from the backrest part 30 on the left and right sides, respectively. The seat part 3, the backrest part 30, and the two side supports 40 can thus at least partially define a receiving space for seating a child.

[0010] The headrest 20 is slidably connected to the backrest portion 30 and can move vertically along the backrest portion 30 for adjustment according to the height of a child seated in the child safety seat 1. For example, the headrest 20 can be adjusted between a lower position, in which the headrest 20 is located substantially in an interior region of the child safety seat 1 between the two side supports 40, and a higher position, in which the headrest 20 extends beyond an upper end of the backrest portion 30. When the headrest 20 is in the lower position, a smaller child can be adequately supported, and when it is in the higher position, a larger child can be adequately supported.After the headrest 20 has been positioned at a desired height, the headrest 20 can be locked to the backrest portion 30 using a headrest locking mechanism (not shown) provided in the child safety seat 1. Headrest locking mechanisms are known in the art and will not be described for brevity.

[0011] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are in connection with Fig. 1 schematic diagrams showing further construction details of the child safety seat 1. In the Fig. 1 to 3, the two side supports 40 can help limit the sideways movement of a child sitting on the child safety seat 1. Here, the two side supports 40 can have suitable dimensions to provide sideways restraint. For example, the two side supports 40 can each extend from an upper end of the backrest part 30 to its lower end. However, it should be understood that the size of the side supports 40 along the left and right sides of the backrest part 30 can be changed as needed.

[0012] The two side supports 40 are configured to be movable relative to the backrest part 30 to change a transverse distance W between the two side supports 40. The transverse distance W can be, for example, a horizontal distance that transversely separates the two side supports 40 in front of the backrest part 30. By changing the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40, a width of a receiving space of the child safety seat 1 can be adjusted according to the size of the child therein. For example, the two side supports 40 can move transversely away from each other to increase the transverse distance W for a larger child, and they can move transversely toward each other to decrease the transverse distance W for a smaller child.

[0013] According to one design example, the two side supports 40 can be slidably connected to the backrest part 30 for sliding movements along a transverse axis extending from a left side to a right side of the backrest part 30. For example, each side support 40 can include a coupling part 40A slidably connected to the backrest part 30 and a support part 40B rigidly connected to the coupling part 40A and projecting forward from the backrest part 30. According to one design example, the coupling part 40A and the support part 40B can be manufactured as two interconnected plates, with the support part 40B extending at an angle to the coupling part 40A.The side support 40 can slide transversely on the left and right sides of the backrest part 30 to displace the support part 40B toward or away from an outer edge 30E of the backrest part 30 to adjust the transverse distance W.

[0014] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, each side support 40 can be connected to the backrest part 30 via a sliding connection, which can, for example, comprise at least one rod 32 rigidly connected to the backrest part 30 and at least one guide slot 43 provided on the side support 40 and through which the rod 32 is slidably received. According to one design example, the coupling part 40A of each side support 40 can be arranged to cover a surface 30A of the backrest part 30 and slide generally parallel thereto; the rod 32 can be rigidly connected to the surface 30A of the backrest part 30; and the guide slot 43 can be provided on the coupling part 40A of the side support 40.

[0015] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the example shown in Figure 3, the coupling part 40A of each side support 40 has two guide slots 43 that are vertically spaced from each other and through which two rods 32 rigidly connected to the backrest part 30 are respectively received. However, more guide slots 43 and more rods 32 for slidably connecting each side support 40 to the backrest part 30 may be provided.

[0016] It is understood that the sliding connection between the backrest part 30 and the side support 40 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, instead of the sliding connection between the backrest part 30 and the side support 40 comprising the rod 32 rigidly connected to the backrest part 30, and instead of arranging the guide slot 43 on the coupling part 40A of the side support 40, the sliding connection may alternatively comprise a rod 32 rigidly connected to the coupling part 40A of the side support 40, and the guide slot 43 may be arranged on the surface 30A of the backrest part 30.

[0017] When the side support 40 moves transversely relative to the backrest portion 30, the rod 32 can be guided to slide along the corresponding guide slot 43. The sliding connection consisting of the rod 32 and the guide slot 43 can guide sliding movements of the side support 40 and can assist in limiting the movement of the side support 40 relative to the backrest portion 30.

[0018] In the Fig. 1 to 3, the transverse movement of the two side supports 40 can be linked to the vertical movement of the headrest 20 to facilitate adjustment of the child safety seat 1 according to the size of a child. For this purpose, the child safety seat 1 can have a connecting mechanism 10 configured to movably connect the two side supports 40 to the headrest 20, respectively. In this way, a vertical movement of the headrest 20 relative to the backrest portion 30 can cause the two side supports 40 to simultaneously move transversely relative to the backrest portion 30, so that the height of the headrest 20 and the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40 can be adjusted in parallel.

[0019] According to one design example, the connecting mechanism 10 can movably connect each side support 40 to the headrest 20 via a sliding connection. The connecting mechanism 10 can, for example, have two rod parts 12 that move together with the headrest 20 and two tapered slots 42 provided on the two side supports 40, respectively. The two tapered slots 42 can be provided on the coupling parts 40A of the two side supports 40, respectively. According to one design example, the two tapered slots 42 can be substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal center axis S of the backrest part 30. The longitudinal center axis S can be defined as an axis that extends from the lower end to the upper end of the backrest part 30 and is equidistant from the two outer edges 30E on the left and right sides of the backrest part 30.The two beveled slots 42 can come closer to each other as they extend upwards along the longitudinal central axis S.

[0020] The two rod parts 12 move together with the headrest 20 during height adjustment of the headrest 20 and are each slidably connected to the two beveled slots 42 of the two side supports 40. According to one design example, the two rod parts 12 can be rigidly connected to the headrest 20 and can each be received by the two beveled slots 42 of the two side supports 40. When the headrest 20 moves relative to the backrest part 30 for height adjustment, the two rod parts 12 can each slide along the two beveled slots 42 of the two side supports 40. Due to the sliding connection between the rod parts 12 and the beveled slots 42, the two side supports 40 and the headrest 20 can move simultaneously relative to the backrest part 30.For example, the two side supports 40 can slide transversely away from each other while the headrest 20 slides upward, and they can slide transversely toward each other while the headrest 20 slides downward. Accordingly, the height of the headrest 20 and the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40 can be adjusted simultaneously.

[0021] Since children grow at different rates, it may be desirable to provide different adjustment levels for the headrest 20 and the side supports 40. For example, the child safety seat 1 may have a first adjustment level in which the headrest 20 is movable for height adjustment while the two side supports 40 remain in position relative to the backrest part 30; and a second adjustment level in which the headrest 20 and the two side supports 40 are simultaneously movable for adjustment relative to the backrest part 30. The height of the headrest 20 may be greater in the second adjustment level than in the first adjustment level.

[0022] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the connecting mechanism 10 can be configured to provide the aforementioned two adjustment stages for the headrest 20 and the side supports 40. In particular, each tapered slot 42 can have two interconnected slot parts 42A and 42B extending in different directions. For example, the slot part 42A can have a substantially straight shape extending generally parallel to the longitudinal central axis S of the backrest part 30, and the slot part 42B can be inclined with respect to the slot part 42A. According to one design example, the slot part 42B can be arranged above the slot part 42A and inclined inward (i.e., toward a central region of the backrest part 30) with respect to the slot part 42A. A movement of the rod part 12 along the slot part 42A corresponds to the first adjustment stage, i.e.The headrest 20 is movable for height adjustment, while the side support 40 remains in its position relative to the backrest part 30. Movement of the rod part 12 along the slot part 42B corresponds to the second adjustment stage, i.e., the headrest 20 and the side support 40 are simultaneously movable relative to the backrest part 30 to simultaneously adjust the height of the headrest 20 and the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40.

[0023] In the first adjustment stage, the two rod parts 12 can each move along the slot parts 42A of the two beveled slots 42 when the headrest 20 slides relative to the backrest part 30 for height adjustment, and the two side supports 40 can remain in position relative to the backrest part 30 to maintain a minimum transverse distance W between the two side supports 40. In the second adjustment stage, the two rod parts 12 can each move along the slot parts 42B of the two beveled slots 42 when the headrest 20 and the two side supports 40 move simultaneously relative to the backrest part 30 for adjustment.For example, the two side supports 40 may move together with the headrest 20 to gradually increase the transverse distance W as the headrest 20 slides upward, and they may move together with the headrest 20 to gradually decrease the transverse distance W as the headrest 20 slides downward. The largest transverse distance W between the two side supports 40 can be obtained when the two rod parts 12 reach the ends of the slot parts 42B.

[0024] Under certain circumstances, it may also be desirable to be able to adjust the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40 without moving the headrest 20. For example, when the child safety seat 1 is not in use and the headrest 20 is locked in the highest position relative to the backrest part 30, the two side supports 40 could be arranged to reduce the transverse distance W, making the child safety seat 1 more compact for easy storage or transport. In this context, the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 schematic representations showing an embodiment of the connecting mechanism 10, which is configured to movably connect the two side supports 40 to the headrest 20, respectively, as set forth above, and also to allow transverse movements of the two side supports 40 with respect to the backrest part 30, while the headrest 20 remains in its position with respect to the backrest part 30. In Fig. 4, the coupling part 40A of one of the two side supports 40 is missing in order to better illustrate the construction details of the connecting mechanism 10.

[0025] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the connecting mechanism 10 can also movably connect each side support 40 to the headrest 20 via a sliding connection consisting of the rod part 12, which is moved together with the headrest 20, and the beveled slot 42 provided on the side support 40. In the example of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the connecting mechanism 10 further comprises two support members 14, each rigidly connected to the two rod members 12 and movably connected to the headrest 20, whereby the support members 14 and the rod members 12 connected thereto are movable relative to the headrest 20. According to one design example, each of the two rod members 12 and the corresponding support member 14 can be fastened to one another by means of a fastening element. According to another design example, each of the two rod members 12 and the corresponding support member 14 can be manufactured in one piece as a single part.

[0026] For sliding movements along a transverse axis extending from the left to the right side of the headrest 20, the two support members 14 can each be connected to the headrest 20. According to one design example, each support member 14 can have a base member 141, to which the corresponding rod member 12 is rigidly attached, and two projecting members 142 and 143, each connected to the base member 141 on two opposite sides of the base member 141. The two projecting members 142 and 143 can each be slidably connected to two parallel guide slots 22 provided on the headrest 20, so that the support member 14 and the rod member 12 held thereon can slide transversely with respect to the headrest 20.

[0027] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the connecting mechanism 10 may further include one or more spring members 16 configured to apply a biasing force that counteracts inward movements of the two side supports 40 to reduce the transverse distance W. In the illustrated example, the one or more spring members 16 may movably bias each of the two support members 14 and the corresponding rod member 12 in an outward direction away from a central region of the headrest 20, i.e., displacing the two rod members 12 transversely away from each other. Because the two rod members 12 are each slidably connected to the two tapered slots 42, the biasing force of the one or more spring members 16 may counteract inward movements of the two side supports 40 that would reduce the transverse distance W.

[0028] According to one design example, two spring members 16 may be provided, each connected to the two support members 14. Without limitation, the spring members 16 are springs. Each of the two spring members 16 may have one end connected to the corresponding support member 14 and another end connected to the headrest 20. The biasing force applied by each spring member 16 may counteract inward movement of the corresponding side support 40.

[0029] The connecting mechanism 10 of the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 can movably connect each of the two side supports 40 to the headrest 20 and can provide two adjustment stages for the headrest 20 and the side supports 40, as set forth above. In the first adjustment stage, the two rod parts 12 can each move along the slot parts 42A of the two tapered slots 42 when the headrest 20 slides relative to the backrest part 30 for height adjustment, and the two side supports 40 can remain in position relative to the backrest part 30 to maintain the smallest transverse distance W between the two side supports 40. In the second adjustment stage, the two rod parts 12 can each move along the slot parts 42B of the two tapered slots 42 when the headrest 20 and the two side supports 40 move simultaneously relative to the backrest part 30 for adjustment.

[0030] In addition, the connection mechanism 10 of the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 Transverse movements of the two side supports 40 independently of the headrest 20 to change the transverse distance W. For example, at the second adjustment stage (e.g., at an uppermost position), while the headrest 20 is held in position with respect to the backrest part 30, the two side supports 40 can be forced to move inward toward each other with respect to the backrest part 30 to reduce the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40, whereby the preload force of the spring parts 16 can be overcome and the two rod parts 12 can be caused to slide transversely toward each other with respect to the headrest 20. By reducing the transverse distance W between the two side supports 40, the child safety seat 1 can become more compact for easy storage and transportation.

[0031] According to one design example, a locking mechanism may additionally be used to lock and unlock the two rod members 12 to the headrest 20. The locking mechanism may, for example, be configured to lock the two support members 14 to hold them in position relative to the headrest 20 and unlock the support members 14 to allow transverse sliding movements of the two rod members 12 relative to the headrest 20. After the two side supports 40 have been moved toward each other independently of the headrest 20 to reduce the transverse distance W, the locking mechanism may be locked to hold the two rod members 12 in position relative to the headrest 20, which may counteract the biasing force of the two spring members 16 and hold the two side supports 40 in position relative to the backrest portion 30.When the two side supports 40 need to be unfolded, the locking mechanism can be unlocked, and the biasing force of the two spring parts 16 can force the two rod parts 12 to move away from each other, and can thereby force the two side supports 40 to move away from each other with respect to the backrest part 30.

[0032] While examples have been described above in which the rod members 12 are moved together with the headrest 20 and the tapered slots 42 are provided on the side supports 40, it should be understood that the connecting mechanism 10 is not limited to the illustrated examples. According to a design variant, the two rod members 12 may each be moved together with the two side supports 40, and the headrest 20 may have two tapered slots 42 slidably connected to the two rod members 12, so that a connecting mechanism can be provided that can also movably connect the two side supports 40 to the headrest 20 and function as described above.In this construction variant, the two beveled slots 42 on the headrest 20 may also comprise two slot parts 42A and 42B extending in different directions, wherein a first of the two slot parts has a substantially straight shape extending generally parallel to the longitudinal central axis S of the backrest part 30, and a second of the two slot parts is arranged below the first slot part and is inclined outwardly with respect to the first slot part.

[0033] In a construction in which the two rod parts 12 are each moved together with the two side supports 40 instead of with the headrest 20, the support part 14 and the spring part 16, which are in Fig.5, may also be provided on each side support 40 to allow transverse movements of the side support 40 independently of the headrest 20 to change the transverse distance W. In particular, for transverse movements with respect to the side support 40, the support member 14 may be rigidly connected to the rod member 12 and slidably connected to the side support 40, and the spring member 16 may be connected to each of the support member 14 and the side support 40 and may apply a biasing force that counteracts inward movement of the side support 40.

[0034] Among the advantages of the child safety seat described here is that the two side supports on the left and right sides of the backrest can be moved transversely, allowing the width of the seating area in which a child sits to be adjusted according to the child's size. Furthermore, the two side supports can be flexibly connected to the headrest of the child safety seat, allowing the side supports and headrest to be moved simultaneously for convenient adjustment.

Claims

[1] Child safety seat (1) with: a seat part (3) and a backrest part (30) which are connected to one another; a headrest (20) slidably connected to the backrest part (30); a first and a second side support (40) connected to the backrest part (30) and each projecting forward from the backrest part (30) on two sides of the backrest part (30), wherein the first and the second side support (40) are arranged such that they are movable with respect to the backrest part (30) in order to change a transverse distance (W) between the first side support (40) and the second side support (40); and a connecting mechanism (10) configured to connect the first and second side supports (40) to the headrest (20), respectively, such that the headrest (20) and the first and second side supports (40) are simultaneously movable relative to the backrest part (30) for adjustment, wherein the connecting mechanism (10) is further configured to allow transverse movements of the first and second side supports (40) relative to the backrest part (30) while the headrest (20) remains in its position relative to the backrest part (30); and wherein the connecting mechanism (10) comprises a support part (14) rigidly connected to a rod part (12) and slidably connected to the headrest (20) or the first side support (40);and a chamfered slot (42) provided on the other of the headrest (20) and the first side support (40), the rod part (12) being slidably connected to the chamfered slot (42); [2] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second side supports (40) each extend from an upper end of the backrest part (30) to a lower end of the backrest part (30). [3] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second side supports (40) each have a coupling part (40A) slidably connected to the backrest part (30); and a support part (40B) rigidly connected to the coupling part (40A) and projecting forward from the backrest part (30). [4] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 3, wherein the coupling part (40A) and the support part (40B) are made as two plates connected to each other, the support part (40B) extending at an angle from the coupling part (40A). [5] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the coupling part (40A) of the first side support (40) is arranged so that it covers a surface (30A) of the backrest part (30) and slides substantially parallel thereto, wherein the surface (30A) of the backrest part (30) or the coupling part (40A) of the first side support (40) is rigidly connected to a rod (32) and the other of the surface (30A) of the backrest part (30) or the coupling part (40A) of the first side support (40) has a guide slot (43) through which the rod (32) is slidably received. [6] Child safety seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connecting mechanism (10) movably connects the first and second side supports (40) to the headrest (20) via a sliding connection. [7] Child safety seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the beveled slot (42) has a first and a second slot part (42A, 42B) which are connected to each other and extend in different directions. [8] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 7, wherein a movement of the rod part (12) along the first slot part (42A) corresponds to a first adjustment stage in which the headrest (20) is movable for height adjustment while the first side support (40) remains in its position with respect to the backrest part (30), and a movement of the rod part (12) along the second slot part (42B) corresponds to a second adjustment stage in which the headrest (20) and the first side support (40) are simultaneously movable with respect to the backrest part (30). [9] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first slot part (42A) has a substantially straight shape extending generally parallel to a longitudinal central axis (S) of the backrest part (30). [10] Child safety seat (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second slot part (42B) is inclined with respect to the first slot part (42A). [11] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 10, wherein the second slot part (42B) is arranged above the first slot part (42A) and is inclined towards a central region of the backrest part (30). [12] Child safety seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connecting mechanism (10) further comprises a spring member (16) connected to the support member (14), the spring member (16) being arranged to apply a biasing force which counteracts an inward movement of the first side support (40) for reducing the transverse distance (W) between the first side support (40) and the second side support (40).

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