AUTOMATIC SWIVEL MECHANISM, SIDE-IMPACT PROTECTION DEVICE AND CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Abstract

An automatic swivel mechanism, as described in the application, is provided for controlling the automatic movement of a first object and a second object. The automatic swivel mechanism includes: a locking mechanism located in the first object, capable of switching between a latched position to prevent relative movement and an unlocked position to allow relative movement; a drive mechanism located in the second object, capable of being actuated to switch the locking mechanism from the latched position to the unlocked position; and an actuating mechanism located in a third object, which actuates the drive mechanism when the third object moves relative to a fourth object. A side-impact protection device and a child safety seat are also provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to an automatic swivel mechanism, a side impact protection device incorporating the automatic swivel mechanism, and a child safety seat incorporating the side impact protection device. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A child safety seat is a device installed on a car seat. In the event of an emergency braking or accidental collision, the safety seat reduces the impact on the child and restricts body movement, thus reducing injuries sustained in accidents and ensuring the child's safety while traveling.

[0003] Some safety seats feature side impact protection devices to mitigate the lateral impact received by the seat. A side impact protection device consists of side wings that extend from both outer sides of a seat and has a folded position and a deployed position. In the folded position, the side impact protection device is positioned against the outer sides of the seat to reduce space consumption; and in the deployed position, the side impact protection device protrudes from the sides of the seat to provide cushioning between the seat and the vehicle.

[0004] In some applications of the child safety seat, the seat can rotate backward and forward relative to the base. When the seat rotates, the protruding side impact protection block may interfere with an upper bar located on the base, making it impossible to directly rotate the seat forward and backward. The side impact protection block must be manually folded before rotating the seat, making it more cumbersome to use.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to design an automatic pivoting mechanism for the side impact protection block. When the seat rotates backward and forward relative to the base, the automatic folding structure can automatically fold the side impact protection block. DEMOLITION

[0006] According to the application, an automatic pivoting mechanism for controlling automatic movement of a protective block body (a first object) and a seat (a second object) is provided, characterized in that the automatic pivoting mechanism comprises: a pivoting mechanism arranged in the first object and capable of being adjusted between a locked position for preventing relative movement and an unlocked position for permitting relative movement; a drive mechanism arranged in the second object and capable of adjusting the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position when actuated; and an actuating mechanism arranged in a third object and actuating the drive mechanism when the third object moves relative to a fourth object.

[0007] Thanks to the automatic swing mechanism of the application, the relative movement between the protective block body and the seat can be automatically unlocked according to the relative movement between the rotating seat and the base, thereby realizing coupling between the multiple objects, reducing the necessary handling by the user and being more comfortable for the user.

[0008] In one embodiment, the protective block body is pivotable relative to the seat between an extended position and a collapsed position, and when the protective block body assumes the extended position, the locking mechanism is movable to the locked position so that the protective block body is held in the extended position; a collapsible elastic member is disposed at a pivot joint between the protective block body and the seat, and the collapsible elastic member biases the protective block body toward the collapsed position.

[0009] The protective block body is held in the extended position and is preloaded into the collapsed position by the collapsible elastic element. As long as a position lock of the protective block body is released, the protective block body automatically moves into the collapsed position.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the protective block body assumes the collapsed position, the drive mechanism maintains the locking mechanism in the unlocked position.

[0011] When the protective block body is in the folded position, the locking mechanism does not prevent the protective block body from moving to the extended position. If the user needs to return the protective block body to the extended position, only the protective block body needs to be manipulated, and the locking mechanism does not need to be manipulated simultaneously.

[0012] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises: a locking pin slidably disposed in the protective block body and capable of sliding between an extended position for engagement with a seat and a retracted position for disengagement from the seat; a grooved portion disposed on the seat and having a locking groove open toward the locking pin, and wherein the locking pin is at least partially inserted into the locking groove while assuming the extended position; and an elastic locking member disposed between the locking pin and the protective block body, biasing the locking pin toward the extended position.

[0013] The mechanism of the locking mechanism realizes a manageable locking relationship between the protective block body and the seat.

[0014] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism further comprises: a release member connected to the locking pin, capable of being manipulated from outside the protective block body to adjust the locking pin between the extended position and the retracted position.

[0015] The user can directly unlock the protective block body by manipulating the release element, without requiring relative movement between the swivel seat and the base. This provides the user with an alternative handling option for unlocking the protective block body.

[0016] In one embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises: a cam pivotally mounted in the seat and capable of abutting the locking pin, the cam being provided with a drive portion and an escape portion circumferentially adjacent to each other, the cam being pivotable so that the drive portion abuts the locking pin, thereby driving the drive pin to slide into the retracted position, or pivotable so that the escape portion faces the locking pin, thereby allowing the locking pin to slide into the extended position; and a traction element connected between the cam and the actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism being capable of actuating the cam to be pivoted by the traction element so that the drive portion abuts the locking pin.

[0017] By providing the cam, the locking pin can move between the extended position and the retracted position according to a pulling action of the traction element.

[0018] In one embodiment, the drive mechanism further comprises: an elastic cam member disposed between the cam and the seat for exerting a force for driving the cam to be pivoted so that the escape portion faces the locking pin.

[0019] The elastic cam element is used for the return movement of the cam. When the cam is not pulled by the traction element, the cam automatically returns to its original position, allowing the locking pin to move to the extended position.

[0020] In one embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises: a locking member connected to the traction member and including: a first locking member end abutting the base; and a second locking member end movably coupled to the swivel seat; when the swivel seat and the base move relative to each other, the first locking member end is released from the base and the second locking member end slides in a pulling direction and pulls on the traction member.

[0021] The locking element serves to convert the relative movement between the base and the swivel seat into a pulling effect of the traction element.

[0022] In one embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises: a resilient actuating mechanism element disposed between the pivot seat and the locking element, and biasing the second locking element end in a direction opposite to the pulling direction.

[0023] The elastic actuating mechanism element serves to reset the locking element.

[0024] In one embodiment, the locking element is a locking lever, the first locking element end is a first locking lever end, the second locking element end is a second locking lever end, and the second locking lever end is connected to the traction element; the base is provided with a limiting groove open toward the pivot seat, and the locking lever extends obliquely from the pivot seat to the base with respect to the pulling direction, so that the first locking lever end is capable of abutting within the limiting groove when the pivot seat and the base move relatively, the first locking lever end is rotated out of the limiting groove toward the pivot seat; and the actuating mechanism further comprises an auxiliary rod, the auxiliary rod including: a first auxiliary rod end pivotally connected between the first locking lever end and the second locking lever end to an auxiliary rod engagement portion of the locking lever;and a second auxiliary rod end pivotally connected to the swivel seat.;

[0025] The auxiliary rod defines a direction of movement of the locking lever, which forces the locking lever not only to rotate around the second locking element end when it rotates out of the limiting groove, but also to pull on the traction element at the same time.

[0026] In one embodiment, the second auxiliary rod end is located at a position in a direction opposite to the pulling direction relative to the second locking element end; and the first auxiliary rod end is connected to a substantially central position of the locking lever.

[0027] The above arrangement of the auxiliary rod can effectively restrict the movement of the locking lever without causing much resistance.

[0028] In one embodiment, the first locking lever end has a shape of a triangle protruding towards the base, two inclined planes of the triangle each form two inclined guide planes, the limiting groove has sections each corresponding to the two inclined guide planes, and when the rotary seat moves in different directions relative to the base, the two inclined guide planes no longer abut the limiting groove, so that the first locking lever end is rotated out of the limiting groove towards the rotary seat.

[0029] When the base moves clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the rotary seat, according to the above-mentioned structures of the first locking lever end and the limit groove, the operating mechanism can move in the same way.

[0030] In one embodiment, the locking element is a slider, the first locking element end is a first slider end, and the second locking element end is a second slider end; the base is provided with a restricting groove open toward the rotary seat; the locking slider is located in a slider groove of the rotary seat and is capable of sliding close to or away from the base, and when the rotary seat and the base move relatively, the restricting groove pushes the first slider end so that the locking slider slides away from the base; the locking slider is provided with an actuating groove extending obliquely to the sliding direction of the locking slider, a traction head of the traction element is slidably inserted into the actuating groove so that when the locking slider slides away from the base, the locking slider pulls on the traction element.

[0031] The locking slide provides another way to implement the locking element, which also allows the traction element to be pulled according to a relative movement between the base and the swivel seat.

[0032] In one embodiment, the rotary seat is provided with a guide groove; the guide groove is arranged vertically below the locking slide and extends in the pulling direction; and the traction head is also slidably inserted into the guide groove, thereby restricting it to sliding in the pulling direction.

[0033] The guide groove can limit the direction of movement of the traction head, thereby avoiding unexpected movement of the traction head.

[0034] In one embodiment, the collapsible elastic element is a torsion spring.

[0035] The torsion spring can simply provide a force to fold or collapse a collapsible element.

[0036] In one embodiment, the drive portion has an arcuate surface that is curved outwardly with respect to a pivot axis of the cam, and the escape portion has an arcuate surface that is curved inwardly with respect to the pivot axis of the cam.

[0037] The above-mentioned shape of the cam is favorable for a smooth movement of the locking pin.

[0038] A side impact protection device according to the application comprises: the automatic swing mechanism according to the application; and a protection block body.

[0039] Accordingly, the application implements the automatic folding function of the side impact protection block.

[0040] A child safety seat according to the application comprises: a base; a swivel seat rotatably disposed above the base; a seat disposed above the swivel seat; and the side impact protection device according to the application, wherein the side impact protection block of the side impact protection device is disposed on one or two sides of the seat.

[0041] The automatic folding function of the registration side impact protection block can be applied to the child safety seats.

[0042] In one embodiment, the seat is fixed to the swivel seat or has the ability to slide back and forth or swing with respect to the swivel seat.

[0043] The seat can slide backward and forward, providing a function for adjusting the seat's tilt angle. Since the application uses the traction element to connect the locking mechanism and the drive mechanism, the coupling relationship between the locking mechanism and the drive mechanism is not affected when the seat's tilt angle is adjusted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front view of a child safety seat according to the application, in which a side impact protection block on one side assumes a spread-out position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the child safety seat with the side impact protection block in a folded position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the child safety seat with the side impact protection block in the extended position; Fig. 4 shows a position of the extended side impact protection block with respect to an upper base bar when the seat rotates relative to the base; Fig. 5 shows a position of the collapsed side impact protection block with respect to the upper base bar when the seat rotates relative to the base; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are front perspective views and rear perspective views of a housing and the cam of the side impact protection block, respectively; Fig. Figures 8 to 11 are top cross-sectional views of the side impact protection block, showing four states of the side impact protection block in a process from unfolding to folding. In Fig. 8, the side impact protection block assumes the extended position in which the cam assumes an evasive position and the locking pin assumes the extended position; in Fig. 9, the side impact protection block assumes the extended position in which the cam assumes an abutment position, and the locking pin assumes a retracted position. In Fig. 10, the side impact protection block assumes the folded position in which the cam assumes the abutment position, and the locking pin assumes the retracted position. In Fig. 11 the side impact protection block assumes the folded position, the cam will return to the avoidance position and the locking pin assumes the retracted position; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the base and the actuating mechanism of the child safety seat according to the first embodiment of the application, where the seat assumes a forward position or a rearward position with respect to the base; Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 12; Fig. Figure 14 is a plan view of the base and operating mechanism where the seat rotates counterclockwise relative to the base from the position shown in Fig. 12 rotates to the position shown; Fig. 15 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 14; Fig. Figure 16 is a plan view of the base and the operating mechanism where the seat rotates counterclockwise with respect to the base further from the position shown in Fig. 14 is rotated; Fig. 17 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a plan view of the operating mechanism according to the second embodiment of the application, in which the seat assumes the forward position or the rearward position with respect to the base; Fig. 19 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a plan view of the operating mechanism, where the slider is shown in a state where it is cut along a lateral-longitudinal plane, and the seat assumes the forward position or the rearward position with respect to the base; Fig. 21 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a plan view of the operating mechanism with the slider removed to clearly show a traction head and a guide groove, and the seat in the forward position or the rearward position with respect to the base; Fig. 23 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 22; Fig. Figure 24 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism where the seat is rotated relative to the base; Fig. 25 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 24; Fig. 26 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism, where the slider is shown in a state where it is cut along the lateral-longitudinal plane and the seat is rotated relative to the base; Fig. 27 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 26; Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism where the seat is rotated relative to the base; Fig. 29 is an enlarged partial view of the block part in Fig. 28. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Although the invention is described herein with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Specifically, various modifications to these details may be made within the scope of equivalents of the claims without departing from the invention.

[0045] The directional terms "front," "rear," "upper," and "lower" are used herein for clarity only. The invention is not intended to be limited to the respective directions, but may be adapted according to the actual situation. Although the application is described with reference to typical embodiments, the terminology used is illustrative and exemplary, not limiting.

[0046] With reference to Fig. 1 to 5, a child safety seat 1 according to the application is generally described.

[0047] The child safety seat 1 includes a base 500, a swivel seat 700, a seat 600, and a side impact protection device 400. The base 500 is used to install the child safety seat 1 on a support seat 600, such as a car seat. The swivel seat 700 is rotatably arranged above the base 500 and can rotate about a substantially vertical axis 710 relative to the base 500, so that the seat 600 can be moved between a forward position (as in Fig. 1 to 3) and a rearward position (not shown). The seat 600 is disposed above the swivel seat 700 and rotates together with the swivel seat 700 relative to the base 500. In some applications, the seat 600 may be fixed to the swivel seat 700, and in other applications, the seat 600 may slide or swing back and forth with respect to the base 500 so that the seat 600 performs a recline function. The present invention is applicable to both applications. There may be one or two side impact protection blocks 400 arranged on one side or both sides of the seat 600 and extending laterally from a side surface of the seat 600.

[0048] An upper bar 540, which extends approximately vertically upward, is arranged behind the base 500 so as to abut against a backrest of the car seat to improve the stability of the child safety seat 1. When the seat 600 and the swivel seat 700 rotate relative to the base 500, the side impact protection block 400 can be blocked by the upper bar 540 when the side impact protection block 400 assumes the extended position, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the seat 600 and the swivel seat 700 cannot be rotated into place.

[0049] The child safety seat 1 according to the application is provided with an automatic pivoting mechanism so that the side impact protection block 400 is automatically pivoted relative to the seat 600 from the extended position to the folded position when the seat 600 and the rotating seat 700 rotate relative to the base 500. In this way, conflict and collision between the side impact protection block 400 and the upper bar 640 can be effectively avoided, and the child safety seat 1 can be protected from damage. At the same time, it is not necessary to manually fold the side impact protection block 400 and then rotate the seat 600, which greatly improves the ease of use and handling of the child safety seat 1, as shown in Fig. 5 is shown.

[0050] As in Fig. 6 to 12, the automatic swivel mechanism according to the application includes a locking mechanism 100, a drive mechanism 200, and an actuating mechanism 300. The locking mechanism 100 is disposed in the side impact protection block 400 and is adjustable between a locked position that prevents movement of the side impact protection block 400 relative to the seat 600 and an unlocked position that permits this relative movement. The drive mechanism 200 is disposed in the seat 600 and is actuated to move the locking mechanism 100 from the locked position to the unlocked position. The actuating mechanism 300 is disposed in the swivel seat 700 and actuates the drive mechanism 200 when the swivel seat 700 (and also the seat 600) moves relative to the base 500, such that the drive mechanism 200 unlocks the locking mechanism 100.

[0051] As in Fig. As shown in Figures 8 to 11, the side impact protection block 400 includes a housing 410 and a protection block body 420. The housing 410 is installed on a side surface of the seat 600 or formed as part of the seat 600. The housing 410 has a receiving space 411 for receiving the protection block body 420 therein.

[0052] The protective block body 420 can be pivoted relative to the housing 410 (and also the seat 600) between the extended position and the collapsed position. When the protective block body 420 assumes the extended position, the locking mechanism 100 can be adjusted to the locked position, so that the protective block body 420 is held in the extended position. A collapsible elastic member, such as a torsion spring, is arranged at a pivot joint between the protective block body 420 and the seat 600, and the torsion spring always exerts an inward folding force on the protective block body 420 to bias the protective block body 420 toward the collapsed position. Furthermore, when the protective block body 420 assumes the collapsed position, the drive mechanism 200 maintains the locking mechanism 100 in the unlocked position.

[0053] When the protective block body 420 assumes the extended position, the locking mechanism 100 locks the protective block body 420 in the extended position, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. When the swivel seat 700 (and also the seat 600) rotates relative to the base 500, the drive mechanism 200 drives the actuating mechanism 300 and further drives the locking mechanism 100, so that the locking mechanism 100 no longer locks the protective block body 420 in the extended position, as shown in Fig. 10. The protective block body 420 is preloaded into the folded position by the torsion spring, thereby achieving automatic folding. When the protective block body 420 needs to be extended, the protective block body 420 can be manually pulled into the extended position because the locking mechanism 100 does not lock the protective block body 420, which assumes the folded position.

[0054] With reference again to Fig. 6 to 11, the locking mechanism 100 and the drive mechanism 200 according to the application are described.

[0055] The locking mechanism 100 includes a locking pin 120, a grooved portion 110, an elastic locking element 130, and may also include a release element 140.

[0056] The locking pin 120 is slidably disposed within the protective block body 420 and can slide between an extended position for engagement with the seat 600 and a retracted position for disengagement from the seat 600. More specifically, the locking pin 120 has a substantially cylindrical shape. In the extended position, the locking pin 120 extends at least partially out of the protective block body 420.

[0057] As in Fig. 6, the grooved portion 110 is disposed on the seat 600 (in other words, the housing 410) and has a locking groove 111 open toward the locking pin 120. The locking pin 120 is at least partially inserted into the locking groove 111 while assuming the extended position. The grooved portion 110 may be formed as part of a side surface of the seat 600. A direction in which the locking groove 111 extends faces the protective block body 420, which assumes the extended position, whereby the locking pin 120 can be inserted into the locking groove 111 when the protective block body 420 is pivoted to the extended position, so that the protective block body 420 is locked against pivoting. A cam 210 of the drive mechanism 200 can effectively block the locking pin 120 from entering the grooved portion 110, as will be described in more detail below.

[0058] It will be Fig. 8, according to which the resilient locking element 130 is disposed between the locking pin 120 and the protective block body 420 and biases the locking pin 120 into the extended position. Thus, when the protective block body 420 is pivoted to the extended position, the locking pin 120 automatically locks the protective block body 420. In this embodiment, the resilient locking element 130 may be a spring with one end surrounding one end of the locking pin 120, and the other end of the spring connected to the protective block body 420.

[0059] It is still on Fig. 8, according to which the release element 140 is disposed on a surface of the protective block body 420 facing outward or toward the housing 410 and is connected to the locking pin 120. The release element 140 can be pushed and slid outward from the exterior of the protective block body 420 to adjust the locking pin 120 relative to the protective block body 420 between the extended position and the retracted position. Thus, the user can directly actuate the locking pin 120 through the release element 140 (rather than through the actuating mechanism 300) to unlock pivoting of the protective block body 420 relative to the seat 600.

[0060] As in Fig. 7 to 11, the drive mechanism 200 includes a cam 210 and a traction member 220 and may also include a resilient cam member 214.

[0061] The cam 210 is pivotally mounted in the seat 600 and can abut against the locking pin 120. The cam 210 is provided with a drive portion 211 and an escape portion 212, which are arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other, wherein the drive portion 211 has an arcuate surface that is curved outward with respect to a pivot axis 215 of the cam 210, and the escape portion 212 has an arcuate surface that is curved inward with respect to the pivot axis 215 of the cam 210. When the protective block body 420 assumes the extended position, the cam 210 can be pivoted so that the drive portion 211 abuts against the locking pin 120, thereby driving the locking pin 120 to slide into the retracted position (as shown in Fig. 9), or can be pivoted so that the deflection section 212 faces the locking pin 120, thereby allowing the locking pin 120 to slide into the extended position (as shown in Fig. 8). When the protective block body 420 assumes the collapsed position, the cam 210 holds the locking pin 120 in the retracted position by resisting the force of the resilient locking member 130 preloading the locking pin 120.

[0062] More specifically, the cam 210 is disposed in a cam groove 112 of the grooved portion 110. The axial direction of the cam 210 is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the locking pin 120. The cam groove 112 and the locking groove 111 are substantially perpendicular to each other, that is, the cam groove 112 is substantially parallel to the radial direction of the cam 210, and the locking groove 111 is substantially parallel to the axial direction or pivot axis 215 of the cam 210. The drive portion 211 is separated from the escape portion 212 by a circumferential distance of approximately 90 degrees, and the circumferential distance can also be adjusted to a larger or smaller angle according to the actual situation, for example, between 30 degrees and 150 degrees.

[0063] A cable groove 213 opens at the edge of the cam 210 to allow the tension member 220 to pass therethrough. The cable groove 213 is provided at least partially along the outer edge of the cam 210 to guide a cable 221 extending along the outer edge of the cam 210 and engaging the cam 210.

[0064] The traction element 220 is connected between the cam 210 and the actuating mechanism 300, and the actuating mechanism 300 can actuate the cam 210 to be pivoted by the traction element 220 so that the drive portion 211 abuts the locking pin 120.

[0065] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the elastic cam member 214 is disposed between the cam 210 and the seat 600 to exert a force to pivot the cam 210 so that the deflection portion 212 faces the locking pin 120. Thus, when the actuating mechanism 300 is not driving the drive mechanism 200, the deflection portion 212 of the cam 210 always faces the locking pin 120, thereby allowing the locking pin 120 to slide into its locked position.

[0066] With reference to Fig. 12 to 16, the actuating mechanism 300 according to a first embodiment of the application is described. The actuating mechanism 300 of the first embodiment includes a locking element (in this embodiment, a locking lever 310) and an elastic actuating mechanism element 330, and may also include an auxiliary rod 320.

[0067] The locking lever 310 includes a first locking lever end 311 and a second locking lever end 312. The first locking lever end 311 abuts the base 500. The second locking lever end 312 is pivotally and slidably coupled to the swivel seat 700 (specifically, a path 730 provided in the swivel seat 700) and is connected to the traction element 220. When the swivel seat 700 moves relative to the base 500, the first locking lever end 311 is released from the base 500, and the second locking lever end 312 slides in a pulling direction 314 and pulls on the traction element 220, as shown in Fig. 15 shown.

[0068] The traction element 220 includes a cable sheath 222 and a cable 221 slidably disposed in the cable sheath 222. The cable sheath 222 has one end connected to a cable sheath attachment portion 720 on the rotary seat 700 and the other end connected to the housing 410 (not shown) of the protective block body 420. The cable 221 has one end connected to the second locking lever end 312 and the other end connected to the cam 210 (see Fig. 8 to 11). When the second locking lever end 312 pulls on the cable 221, the cable 221 correspondingly pulls on the cam 210, pivoting the cam 210 in the abutment direction, abutting the locking pin 120. The cable sheath 222 defines a length over which the cable 221 extends between the protection block body 420 and the pivot seat 700, so that when the seat 600 (and also the side impact protection block 400) moves relative to the pivot seat 700, the tension of the cable 221 remains unchanged.

[0069] As in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, the first locking lever end 311 is arranged so that when the swivel seat 700 rotates relative to the base 500 (ie, when the swivel seat 700 assumes the forward position or the backward position), the first locking lever end 311 receives a force to abut against the base 500, and this force is converted into a force that pushes the second locking lever end 312 to slide in the pulling direction 314.

[0070] The elastic actuating mechanism element 330 is disposed between the swivel seat 700 and the locking lever 310 and biases the second locking element end 312 in a direction opposite to the pulling direction 314. More specifically, one end of the elastic actuating mechanism element 330 is connected to a locating pin or a locating lug (not shown) of the swivel seat 700, and the other end of the elastic actuating mechanism element 330 is connected to the second locking lever end 312 of the locking lever 310 to slide in the path 730 following the second locking lever end 312. When there is no relative rotation between the swivel seat 700 and the base 500 (i.e., when the swivel seat 700 is positioned between the forward position and the rearward position), the elastic actuating mechanism element returns the second locking lever end 312 and simultaneously returns the first locking lever end 311.

[0071] More specifically, the base 500 is provided with a limiting groove 510 that opens toward the rotating seat 700. The locking lever 310 extends obliquely from the rotating seat 700 to the base 500 with respect to the pulling direction 314, so that the first locking lever end 311 can abut the limiting groove 510. When the rotating seat 700 and the base 500 move relatively, the first locking lever end 311 is rotated out of the limiting groove 510 and toward the rotating seat 700.

[0072] The base 500 may be provided with a plurality of limiting grooves 510 along a rotational direction, for example, with two limiting grooves 510 spaced 180 degrees apart. When the swivel seat 700 (and also the seat 600) rotates to the forward or reverse position, the first locking lever end 311 may abut the various limiting grooves 510. Thus, when the swivel seat 700 assumes the forward or reverse position, the actuating mechanism 300 cannot actuate the drive mechanism 200, and therefore, the locking pin 120 in the cam 210 cannot be unlocked, so that the protective block body 420 is held in the extended position.

[0073] The first locking lever end 311 may have the shape of a triangle projecting toward the base 500, and two inclined planes of the triangle each form two inclined guide planes 311a. The limiting groove 510 has sections that respectively correspond to the two inclined guide planes 311a. When the rotary seat 700 moves relative to the base 500 in different directions, the two inclined guide planes 311a are, as shown in Fig. 15, is separated from the limiting grooves 510 without abutment, so that the first locking lever end 311 is rotated out of the limiting groove 510 and toward the rotary seat 700.

[0074] The auxiliary rod 320 has a first auxiliary rod end 321 and a second auxiliary rod end 322. The first auxiliary rod end 321 is pivotally connected between the first locking lever end 311 and the second locking lever end 312 to an auxiliary rod engagement portion 313 of the locking lever 310. The second auxiliary rod end 322 is pivotally connected to the pivot seat 700. More specifically, the second auxiliary rod end 322 is located at a position in a direction opposite the pulling direction 314 with respect to the second auxiliary rod end 312. In one embodiment, the auxiliary rod engagement portion 313 is arranged at a substantially central position of the locking lever 310.

[0075] When the rotary seat 700 rotates relative to the base 500, the first locking lever end 311 is pressed by the limiting groove 510, as shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, so that the first locking lever end 311 swings toward the pivot seat 700. Due to the presence of the auxiliary rod 320, swinging the first locking lever end 311 can cause the second locking lever end 312 to slide in the pulling direction 314. The reason for this is that in a case where the first locking lever end 311 is swung while the second locking lever end 312 is not sliding, the auxiliary rod 320 needs to be compressed, but the auxiliary rod 320 cannot be compressed. Accordingly, when the first locking lever end 311 swings, the second locking lever end 312 slides in the pulling direction 314.

[0076] Fig. 12 to 16 show the case where the swivel seat 700 rotates counterclockwise relative to the base 500. Note that the method for operating the actuating mechanism 300 is the same when the swivel seat 700 rotates clockwise relative to the base 500.

[0077] With reference to Fig. 18 to 29, the actuating mechanism 300 according to the second embodiment of the application is described.

[0078] Similar to the first embodiment, the base 500 of the second embodiment is also provided with a restricting groove 510 open to the rotary seat 700, and the shape of the restricting groove 510 in the second embodiment may be the same as that in the first embodiment, so that the base 500 and the restricting groove 510 are omitted from the description of the second embodiment.

[0079] The actuating mechanism 300 of the second embodiment includes a locking member (in this embodiment, a locking slider 350) and an elastic slider member 360.

[0080] The rotary seat 700 is provided with a slide groove 740 that extends radially (in this embodiment, laterally) and is open toward the base 500. The locking slide 350 is located in the slide groove 740 and can slide close to or away from the base 500. A first end 351 of the locking slide 350 is located in the slide groove 740, and the second slide end 352, which is opposite the first slide end 351, faces the base 500. The locking slide 350 can extend from the slide groove 740 and abut through the second slide end 352 in the limiting groove 510 of the base 500 (as shown in Fig. 18 to 23).

[0081] The second slide end 352 may have a triangular shape or other shapes that mate with the limiting groove 510. When the pivot seat 700 and the base 500 move relatively, the limiting groove 510 pushes the first slide end 311, so that the locking slide 350 slides away from the base 500 and retracts into the slide groove 740 (as shown in Fig. 24 to 29).

[0082] The locking slide 350 is provided with an actuating groove 353 extending obliquely to the sliding direction of the locking slide 350. A traction head 223 of the traction element 220 is slidably inserted into the actuating groove 353, so that the pulling element 220 is pulled when the locking slide 350 slides away from the base 500. More specifically, the actuating groove 353 is closer to the base 500 at the front in the pulling direction (in this embodiment, the longitudinal direction) and farther away from the base 500 at the rear in the pulling direction.

[0083] The rotating seat 700 can also be provided with a guide groove 750 (as in Fig. 22 to 23). The guide groove 750 may be arranged vertically below the locking slide 350 and extend in the pulling direction. The traction head 223 is also slidably inserted into the guide groove 750, whereby it is restricted from sliding in the pulling direction by the guide groove 750. When the locking slide 350 slides away from the base 500, the traction head 223 begins to slide under a pull of the actuating groove 353; however, since the traction head 223 is restricted by the guide groove 750, the traction head 223 can only slide in the direction of the guide groove 750.

[0084] The elastic slider element 360 is disposed between the second slider end 352 of the locking slider 350 and the slider groove 740 to bias the locking slider 350 toward the base 500. Specifically, an end of the slider groove 740 remote from the base 500 may be provided with an elastic slider element abutment portion 741, and the elastic slider element abutment portion 741 may be formed to be recessed from the end of the slider groove 740 remote from the base 500. The elastic slider element 360 may be a compression spring, one end of which abuts the elastic slider element abutment portion 741 and the other end of which abuts the second slider end 352.

[0085] In summary, the application provides an automatic swivel mechanism, a side impact protection block, and a child safety seat that uses the automatic swivel mechanism. Note that the automatic swivel mechanism can also be applied to other devices.

[0086] Since the application may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the application, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limited to any of the above details, but should be interpreted as broadly as possible within the scope defined by the claims, and therefore all changes that come within the scope of the claims or their equivalents should be covered by the claims. List of reference symbols 1 child safety seat 100 locking mechanism 110 Grooved section 111 Locking groove 112 cam groove 120 locking pins 130 Elastic locking element 140 Release element 200 drive mechanism 210 cams 211 Drive section 212 Diversion section 213 Cable groove 214 Elastic cam element 215 Swivel axis 220 traction element 221 cables 222 cable sheath 223 Traction head 300 operating mechanism 310 locking lever (locking element) 311 First locking lever end (first locking element end) 311a Inclined guide plane 312 Second locking lever end (second locking element end) 313 Auxiliary rod engagement section 314 Direction of travel 320 auxiliary rod 321 First auxiliary rod end 322 Second auxiliary rod end 330 Elastic actuating mechanism element 350 locking slide (locking element) 351 First slide end (first locking element end) 352 Second slide end (second locking element end) 353 Actuating groove 360 Elastic slider end 400 side impact protection block 410 housing 411 Recording Room 420 Protective block body (first object) 500 base (fourth object) 510 limiting groove 540 Upper bar 600 seats (second property) 700 swivel seat (third object) 710 Axle 720 cable jacket fastening section 730 Way 740 slide groove 741 Abutment section of the elastic slide element 750 guide groove

Claims

[1] Automatic panning mechanism for controlling a relative movement of a first object (400) and a second object (600), characterized by that the automatic swivel mechanism includes: a locking mechanism (100) disposed in the first object (400) and capable of switching between a locked position in which relative movement is prevented and an unlocked position in which relative movement is permitted; a drive mechanism (200) disposed in the second object (600) and operable to move the locking mechanism (100) from the locked position to the unlocked position; and an actuating mechanism (300) disposed in a third object (700) and actuating the drive mechanism (200) when the third object (700) moves relative to a fourth object (500). [2] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by , that: the first object (400) can be pivoted with respect to the second object (600) between an extended position and a folded position, and when the first object (400) assumes the extended position, the locking mechanism (100) can be adjusted to the locked position so that the first object (400) is held in the extended position; and a collapsible elastic element is arranged at a pivot joint between the first object (400) and the second object (600), and the collapsible elastic element preloads the first object (400) into the collapsed position. [3] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by , that: the drive mechanism (200) holds the locking mechanism (100) in the unlocked position when the first object (400) assumes the folded position. [4] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 1-3, characterized by that the locking mechanism (100) comprises: a locking pin (120) slidably disposed in the first object (400) and capable of sliding between an extended position for engagement with the second object (600) and a retracted position for disengagement from the second object (600); a grooved portion (110) disposed on the second object (600) and having a locking groove (111) open toward the locking pin (120), and the locking pin (120) is at least partially inserted into the locking groove (111) while assuming the extended position; and an elastic locking element (130) arranged between the locking pin (120) and the first object (400) and preloading the locking pin (120) into the extended position. [5] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 4, characterized bythat the locking mechanism (100) further comprises: a release element (140) connected to the locking pin (120) and operable from outside the first object (400) to move the locking pin (120) between the extended position and the retracted position. [6] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized by that the drive mechanism (200) comprises: a cam (210) pivotably disposed in the second object (600) and capable of abutting the locking pin (120), the cam (210) being provided with a driving portion (211) and an escape portion (212) arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other, the cam (210) being pivotable so that the driving portion (211) abuts the locking pin (120), thereby driving the locking pin (120) to slide to the retracted position, or being pivotable so that the escape portion (212) faces the locking pin (120), thereby allowing the locking pin (120) to slide to the extended position; and a traction element (220) connected between the cam (210) and the actuating mechanism (300), the actuating mechanism (300) being capable of actuating the cam (210) to be pivoted by the traction element (220) so that the drive portion (211) abuts the locking pin (120). [7] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 6, characterized by that the drive mechanism (200) further comprises: an elastic cam member (214) disposed between the cam (210) and the second object (600) for exerting a force to drive the cam (210) to pivot so that the escape portion (212) faces the locking pin (120). [8] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 7, characterized by that the actuating mechanism (300) comprises: a locking element connected to the traction element (220) including: a first locking element end abutting the fourth object (500); and a second locking element end movably coupled to the third object (700); when the third object (700) and the fourth object (500) move relatively, the first locking element end (311) is released from the fourth object (500), and the second locking element end (312) slides in a pulling direction and pulls on the traction element (220). [9] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 8, characterized by that the actuating mechanism (300) comprises: an elastic actuating mechanism element (330) disposed between the third object (700) and the locking lever (310) and biasing the second locking element end (312) in a direction opposite to the pulling direction (314). [10] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 9, characterized by , that: the locking element is a locking lever (310), the first locking element end is a first locking lever end (311), the second locking element end is a second locking lever end (312), and the second locking lever end (312) is connected to the traction element (220); the fourth object (500) is provided with a limiting groove (510) that is open to the third object (700), and the locking lever (310) extends obliquely from the third object (700) to the fourth object (500) with respect to the pulling direction (314), so that the first locking lever end (311) can abut the limiting groove (510) when the third object (700) and the fourth object (500) move relatively, the first locking lever end (311) is rotated out of the limiting groove (510) and toward the third object (700); and the actuating mechanism (300) further comprises an auxiliary rod (320) having: a first auxiliary rod end (321) pivotally connected between the first locking lever end (311) and the second locking lever end (312) to an auxiliary rod engagement portion (313) of the locking lever (310); and a second auxiliary rod end (322) pivotally connected to the third object (700). [11] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 10, characterized by , that: the second auxiliary rod end (322) is located at a position in a direction opposite to the pulling direction (314) with respect to the second locking rod end (312); and the first auxiliary rod end (321) is connected to a substantially central position of the locking lever (310). [12] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized by , that: the first locking lever end (311) has a shape of a triangle which projects towards the fourth object (500), two inclined planes of the triangle each form two inclined guide planes (311a), the limiting groove (510) has sections which respectively correspond to the two inclined guide planes (311a), and when the third object (700) moves in different directions relative to the fourth object (500), the two inclined guide planes (311a) are separated from the limiting groove (510) so that they no longer abut against it, so that the first locking lever end (311) is rotated out of the limiting groove (510) in the direction of the third object (700). [13] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized by , that: the locking element is a locking slide (350), the first locking element end is a first slide end (351) and the second locking element end is a second slide end (352); the fourth object (500) is provided with a limiting groove (510) which is open towards the third object (700); the locking slider (350) is located in a slider groove (740) of the third object (700) and is capable of sliding close to or away from the fourth object (500), and when the third object (700) and the fourth object (500) move relatively, the limiting groove (510) moves the first slider end (311) such that the locking slider (350) slides away from the fourth object (500); and the locking slide (350) is provided with an actuating groove (353) which extends obliquely to the sliding direction of the locking slide (350), a traction head (223) of the traction element (220) is slidably inserted into the actuating groove (353) so that when the locking slide (350) slides away from the fourth object (500), the locking slide (350) pulls on the traction element (220). [14] Automatic swivel mechanism according to claim 13, characterized by , that: the third object (700) is provided with a guide groove (750); the guide groove (750) is arranged vertically below the locking slide (350) and extends in the pulling direction; and the traction head (223) is also slidably inserted into the guide groove (750), whereby its sliding in the pulling direction is limited. [15] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized by , that: the collapsible elastic element is a torsion spring. [16] Automatic swivel mechanism according to one of claims 6 to 15, characterized by , that: the drive section (211) has an arcuate surface which is curved outwards with respect to a pivot axis (215) of the cam (210), and the escape section (212) has an arcuate surface which is curved inwards with respect to the pivot axis (215) of the cam (210). [17] Side impact protection block, comprising: the automatic swivel mechanism according to any one of claims 1-16; and a protective block body (420) serving as the first object (400). [18] Child safety seat (1), comprising: a base (500); a rotating seat (700) rotatably disposed above the base (500); a seat (600) arranged above the rotating seat (700); and the side impact protection block according to claim 17, wherein the side impact protection block (400) of the side impact protection device is arranged on one or two sides of the seat (600); wherein the second object (600) is the seat (600), the third object (700) is the swivel seat (700) and the fourth object (500) is the base (500). [19] Child safety seat (1) according to claim 18, characterized by , that: the seat (600) is fixed to the swivel seat (700) or has the ability to slide back and forth or to swing with respect to the swivel seat (700).

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