Child Safety Seat Side Buffering Latch for Easy Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional child safety seats with side impact protection mechanisms are complex and difficult to operate, which can be inconvenient in practical scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A child safety seat with a side impact protection mechanism that includes a buffering part movable between stowed and deployed positions, and a latching mechanism with a latch that can be unlocked by direct rotation or a release actuator, allowing for easy deployment and stowage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional side impact protection mechanism with a rotatable protecting element and button-operated locking mechanism is used, then side impact protection is provided, but the construction becomes complex and operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The side impact protection mechanism is divided into separate functional modules: a buffering part for energy absorption, a latching mechanism for locking, and a release actuator for unlocking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall construction while maintaining effective side impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The release actuator is extracted as a separate, easily accessible component that can be operated independently from the main body of the seat. This allows the locking mechanism to be simplified while maintaining the ability to deploy and retract the buffering part through a dedicated unlocking action.
2Reliability
If a conventional side impact protection mechanism with a rotatable protecting element and button-operated locking mechanism is used, then side impact protection is provided, but operation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the buffering part in both deployed and retracted positions without requiring manual intervention. The release actuator provides a simple, intuitive operation for unlocking, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining locked positions while requiring minimal user action for deployment and retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring continuous manual operation to maintain the protected state, the system inverts the approach by automatically locking into position and requiring only a simple release action to change states. This inversion from active control to passive locking significantly improves operation convenience while maintaining reliable protection.
3Reliability
If a buffering part is made movable between stowed and deployed positions for side impact protection, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is merged with the buffering part structure, where the latch is directly formed as part of the buffering part or integrally connected to it. This merging eliminates the need for separate locking components and simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining the ability to securely lock the buffering part in deployed and retracted positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering part is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides side impact protection when deployed, acts as a structural component of the seat shell, and incorporates the latching mechanism for self-locking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining effective protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A child safety seat includes a seat shell having a sidewall for restricting a sideways movement of a child sitting on the seat shell, the sidewall being provided with a locking slot, a buffering part movably connected with the seat shell, and a latching mechanism including a latch carried with the buffering part. The buffering part is movable between a stowed position where the buffering part is retracted toward the sidewall, and a deployed position where the buffering part protrudes sideways from the sidewall. The latch is movable relative to the buffering part between a locking state where the latch is engaged with the locking slot for locking the buffering part to the seat shell, and an unlocking state where the latch is disengaged from the locking slot for unlocking the buffering part so that the buffering part is movable relative to the seat shell.