Child Seat Base With Pivoting Belt Clamp and Movable Seat Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child seats do not efficiently secure to vehicle seats and allow for easy installation and adjustment of the juvenile seat orientation, particularly when the seat needs to be detached for vehicle seatbelt attachment.
Innovation Solution
A child restraint system with a seat base and juvenile seat that includes a vehicle seatbelt retainer pivotable between clamped and released positions, a seat-orientation controller for rotating the juvenile seat, and a connector system for maintaining connection between the seat base and juvenile seat, allowing for secure attachment to a vehicle seat and adjustable seat orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the juvenile seat is directly attached to the seat base, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the accessibility to the seatbelt retainer deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The child restraint system is divided into three main segments: the seat base, the seat-orientation controller, and the juvenile seat. This segmentation allows the seatbelt retainer on the seat base to be accessed independently by moving the juvenile seat, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and accessibility to the seatbelt retainer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic movement capability where the juvenile seat can be moved relative to the seat base between a use position and a base-installation position. This dynamic repositioning provides clearance for the seatbelt retainer, enabling easy access while maintaining a simple overall structure when assembled.
2Ease of operation
If the juvenile seat is moved to provide clearance for the seatbelt retainer, then the ease of installation is improved, but the connection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat connection system incorporates dynamic movement capability that allows the juvenile seat to be temporarily displaced from its normal position during installation. The hinge connection maintains stability during use while enabling controlled movement during installation to access the seatbelt retainer.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat connection system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the juvenile seat and the seat base. It provides a controlled movement path that allows temporary separation for seatbelt installation while ensuring stable reconnection, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and connection stability.
3Reliability
If the seatbelt retainer is positioned to clamp the seat belt securely, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the accessibility for installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seatbelt retainer is designed with pivotable movement between a clamped position for secure attachment and a released position for accessibility. During installation, the retainer can be moved to the released position to allow seatbelt insertion, then pivoted to the clamped position to secure the attachment, resolving the contradiction between reliability and accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A child restraint includes a seat base adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat. The seat base includes a seat-base foundation formed to include a vehicle seatbelt path and a vehicle seatbelt retainer coupled to the seat-base foundation and configured to pivot between a released position spaced away from the vehicle seatbelt path and a clamped position overlying the vehicle seatbelt path to clamp a vehicle seat belt to the seat-base foundation to secure the seat base to the vehicle seat. The child restraint further includes a juvenile seat adapted to be secured to the seat base and a seat connection system configured to maintain connection between the juvenile seat and the seat base.