Child car seat

Abstract

Child car seat (1) comprising: a seat body (11); a headrest (12) connected to said seat body (11); a first seat belt (13) and a second seat belt (13) arranged in said seat body (11); a first shoulder pad unit (2), wherein said first shoulder pad unit (2) comprises a first shoulder pad (21) that is connected to said first seat belt (13), and a first connecting strap (22) that interconnects said first shoulder pad (21) and said headrest (12); and a second shoulder pad unit (2), wherein said second shoulder pad unit (2) comprises a second shoulder pad (21) that is connected to said second seat belt (13), and a second connecting strap (22) that interconnects said second shoulder pad (21) and said headrest (12); wherein each of said first and second shoulder pads (21) has a cover on a respective part of said first and second seat belts (13); wherein said first and second connecting strap (22) each comprises a first end (221) that is fixedly connected to said corresponding first and second shoulder pad (21), respectively; wherein said headrest (12) is provided with respective first and second through-holes (121) separated from each other in a left-right direction, wherein each of said first and second connecting strap (22) comprises a second end (222) that is opposite to said respective first end (221) and extends through the respective first and second through-holes (121), characterized in that said headrest (12) can be moved vertically with respect to said seat body (11), and each of said first and second shoulder pad unit (2) is connected to said headrest (12) so that they can move together with it as said headrest (12) moves vertically;and by virtue of the fact that said first or second shoulder pad unit (2) further comprises a hook and loop fastening unit (24) or a release buckle mechanism disposed at two ends of said first or second shoulder pad (21) respectively to releaseably fasten said two ends of said first and second shoulder pad (21) together to form a cover disposed on said first or second seat belt (13).;

Description

Child car seat Description This application claims priority from Chinese application no. 200910211958.4, filed on December 7, 2009. The invention relates to a child car seat, more particularly to a child car seat that is adjustable for children of different sizes. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, U.S. Patent No. 6,471,298 describes a car safety seat comprising a shoulder pad 31, a seat belt 32, a connecting strap 33, a backrest 34 formed with a through-hole 341, and a connecting element 35. The seat belt 32 extends movably through the through-hole 341. The shoulder pad 31 has a movable cover over a portion of the seat belt 32. The connecting strap 33 has an end portion movably connected to the shoulder pad 31 and an opposite end portion that extends movably through the through-hole 341 of the backrest 34 and is connected to the seat belt 32 and the connecting element 35 behind the backrest 34.During an adjustment of the seat belt length 32, the seat belt 32 and the connecting strap 33 can move together so that the shoulder pad 31 moves simultaneously relative to the seat belt 32 to accommodate children of different sizes. JP-A-2009006913 describes a vehicle seat comprising a seat portion, a seat backrest, a shoulder pad, and a shoulder pad raising / lowering means. EP-A-2261077 describes a car seat for children that has a headrest arranged in translation with respect to the seat back between low and high positions. EP 1123833 A2 describes a child car seat comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1. One aspect of the present invention is to provide a child car seat that has a shoulder pad that can be adjusted together with a car seat headrest to accommodate children of different sizes. The invention relates to a car seat for children according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments. Accordingly, a child car seat of the present invention includes a seat body, a headrest connected to the seat body, a seat belt disposed on the seat body, and a shoulder pad unit. The shoulder pad unit includes a shoulder pad connected to the seat belt and a connecting strap that interconnects the shoulder pad and the headrest. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figures 1 and 2 are schematic partial cross-sectional views of a conventional car safety seat described in U.S. Patent No. 6,471,298 and which accommodates children of different sizes; Figure 3 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a child car seat according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a shoulder pad unit of the preferred embodiment; Figure 5 is a schematic view of a positioning element of the preferred embodiment; Figure 6 is a front view of a headrest and shoulder pad unit of the preferred embodiment; Figure 7 is a rear view of the headrest and shoulder pad unit of the preferred embodiment; Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the headrest, illustrating the positioning element in a detachable orientation; and Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but illustrating the positioning element in a docking orientation. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, a preferred embodiment of a child car seat of the present invention is adapted for use in a car (not shown). The child car seat 1 comprises a seat body 11, a headrest 12, two seat belts 13, and two shoulder pads 2. The headrest 12 is connected to the seat body 11, is formed with two through-holes 121 spaced apart in a left-right direction, and is movable relative to the seat body 11 along a vertical direction to accommodate children of different sizes. The seat belts 13 are arranged on the seat body 11 to restrain the child seated in the seat body 11. The shoulder pad units 2 are movably connected to the headrest 12. Each shoulder pad unit 2 includes a shoulder pad 21 connected to one of the respective seat belts 13, and a connecting strap 22 that interconnects the shoulder pad 21 and the headrest 12. The connecting strap 22 of each shoulder pad unit 2 extends through one of the through-holes 121 in the headrest 12, and has a first end 221 fixedly sewn to a corresponding shoulder pad 21, and a second end 222 opposite the first end 221 that extends through the respective through-hole 121 of the headrest 12.Preferably, each of the shoulder pad units 2 further includes a hook and loop fastening unit 24 disposed at two ends of the corresponding shoulder pad 21 to fasten the two ends of the same together to form a cover that is wrapped around a portion of the corresponding seat belt 13. It should be noted that each hook and loop fastening unit 24 may be implemented using a release buckle mechanism in other embodiments of the invention. Each shoulder pad unit 2 further includes a positioning element 23 connected to the second end 222 of a corresponding connecting strap 22 and releasably attached to the headrest 12 to prevent separation of the second end 222 of the corresponding connecting strap 22 from the headrest 12 through the corresponding through hole 121. Referring further to Figures 5 to 9, each of the positioning elements 23 includes a frame body having an outer segment 231 and an intermediate segment 232 extending through the outer segment 231. The second end 222 of each of the connecting straps 22 extends through the outer segment 231 of one of the respective positioning elements 23, and is folded and sewn to form a loop around a corresponding intermediate segment 232. Each of the positioning elements 23 has a cross-sectional size larger than the respective through-hole 121 in the headrest 12, and a thickness smaller than one dimension of the respective through-hole 121. Each of the positioning elements 23 is rotatable with respect to the corresponding connecting strap 22 between a detachable orientation (see figure 8), in which the positioning element 23 is extendable through the respective through hole 121 together with the second end 222 of a corresponding connecting strap 22, and a coupling orientation (see figure 9), in which the positioning element 23 rests against a lateral surface of the headrest 12 opposite the shoulder pad 21 to restrain the separation of the second end 222 of the corresponding connecting strap 22 from the headrest 12 through the respective through hole 121. When the shoulder pad units 2 are installed on the headrest 12, each of the positioning elements 23 must be rotated to the detachable orientation and passed through the corresponding through hole 121 together with the second end 222 of the corresponding connecting straps 22 from a rear side surface of the headrest 12 to a front side surface of the headrest 12. Then, each of the positioning elements 23 is rotated from the detachable orientation to the docking orientation to rest against the front side surface of the headrest 12, thereby slowing the separation of the positioning element 23 and the second end 222 of the corresponding connecting strap 22 from the headrest 12.It should also be noted that, in other embodiments of this invention, the positioning element 23 and the second end 222 of the corresponding connecting strap 22 can pass through the corresponding through hole 121 from the front side surface of the headrest 12 to the rear side surface of the headrest 12 to rest against the rear side surface when turned towards the coupling orientation. Furthermore, the positioning elements 23 can be configured as releaseable buckle mechanisms arranged on the side surface of the headrest 12 and the second ends 222 of the connecting straps 22 to slow the separation of the second ends 222 of the connecting straps 22 from the headrest 12 through the through holes 121. During an emergency braking maneuver, a child seated in the child car seat of the invention tends to move forward due to inertia. Since the child is in direct contact with the shoulder pads 21 instead of the seat belts 13, and since the connecting straps 22 are fixedly attached to the shoulder pads 21, the child's forward movement can be limited to the length of each connecting strap 22 to prevent serious injury to the child.

Claims

1. A child car seat (1) comprising: a seat body (11); a headrest (12) connected to said seat body (11); a first seat belt (13) and a second seat belt (13) disposed on said seat body (11); a first shoulder pad unit (2), wherein said first shoulder pad unit (2) comprises a first shoulder pad (21) that is connected to said first seat belt (13), and a first connecting strap (22) that interconnects said first shoulder pad (21) and said headrest (12); and a second shoulder pad unit (2), wherein said second shoulder pad unit (2) comprises a second shoulder pad (21) that is connected to said second seat belt (13),and a second connecting strap (22) interconnecting said second shoulder pad (21) and said headrest (12); wherein each of said first and second shoulder pads (21) has a cover on a respective portion of said first and second seat belts (13); wherein said first and second connecting straps (22) each comprise a first end (221) that is fixedly connected to the corresponding first and second shoulder pads (21), respectively; wherein said headrest (12) is provided with respective first and second through-holes (121) separated from each other in a left-right direction, wherein each of said first and second connecting straps (22) comprises a second end (222) that is opposite the respective first end (221) and extends through the respective first and second through-holes (121),characterized in that said headrest (12) is vertically movable relative to said seat body (11), and each of said first and second shoulder pad unit (2) is connected to said headrest (12) so that they can move together with it as said headrest (12) moves vertically; and in that said first or second shoulder pad unit (2) further comprises a hook-and-loop fastening unit (24) or a release buckle mechanism disposed at two ends of said respective first or second shoulder pad (21) to releaseably fasten said two ends of said first and second shoulder pad (21) together to form a cover disposed on said first or second seat belt (13).

2. Child car seat (1) according to claim 1,characterized in that one of said first and second shoulder pad units (2) further comprises a positioning element (23) that is connected to said second end (222) of one of said first and second connecting straps (22) and that is releasably engaged with one of said first and second through-holes (121) to restrain the separation of said second end (222) of one of said first and second connecting straps (22) from said headrest (12) through one of said first and second through-holes (121).

3. Child car seat (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning element (23) has a cross-sectional size larger than one of said first and second through-holes (121) in said headrest,and a thickness less than a dimension of one of said first and second through-holes (121).

4. Child car seat (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said positioning element (23) is rotatable about one of said first and second connecting straps (22) between a separable orientation, in which said positioning element (23) is extendable through one of said first and second through-holes (121) together with said second end (222) of one of said first and second connecting straps (22), and a docking orientation,wherein said positioning element (23) rests against a lateral surface of said headrest (12) opposite one of said first and second shoulder pads (21) to restrain the separation of said second end of one of said first and second connecting straps (22) from said headrest (12) through one of said first and second through-holes (121).

5. Child car seat (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said positioning element (23) includes a frame body having an outer segment (231) and an intermediate segment (232) extending through said outer segment (231), said second end (222) of one of said first and second connecting straps (22) extending through said outer segment (231) and being folded and sewn to form a loop around said intermediate segment (232).

Images