Rotatable Car Base with Automatic Hook Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child car seats are cumbersome to couple and decouple from the car seat, requiring complex constructions that complicate the decoupling process, especially in loading/unloading and use positions.
Innovation Solution
A child car seat design featuring a rotatable car base with automatic coupling ISO-FIX fixing means and engagement/disengagement hooks, supported by a kinematic connection device and retention/contrast mechanism, allowing easy and reliable decoupling and coupling in various positions, including a display for correct positioning verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable car base is used to allow rotation between loading/unloading position and use position, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for reliable decoupling mechanisms in multiple positions
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling mechanism is designed to be automatically activated by the rotation movement itself. When the rotatable supporting body is rotated from the use position to the loading/unloading position, the hooks automatically disengage from the engagement elements without requiring separate manual decoupling operations. This self-service approach eliminates complex position-dependent decoupling mechanisms while maintaining the ability to rotate between multiple positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system transitions from a static locking mechanism to a dynamic one where the engagement and disengagement are driven by the rotational movement. The hooks and engagement elements are positioned such that rotation naturally brings them into and out of engagement, making the system adaptive to different positions without adding mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If complex constructions are used to ensure reliable decoupling in both loading/unloading and use positions, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the rotational movement itself to trigger the decoupling action. The hooks are positioned on the rotatable supporting body such that when rotation occurs, the hooks automatically move away from the engagement elements, ensuring reliable decoupling without additional mechanisms. This self-service approach guarantees reliability while keeping the construction simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling function is extracted from a separate control mechanism and integrated directly into the rotation movement. By removing the need for independent decoupling actuators or complex position-sensing systems, the patent achieves reliable decoupling through the essential rotational motion alone, reducing overall construction complexity.
3Strength
If traditional fixing devices are used to anchor the seat structure to the car seat, then the strength and stability are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to arduous coupling and decoupling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The ISO-FIX fixing devices are integrated with the rotatable supporting body such that the anchoring to the car seat remains stable while the seat element can be easily rotated and decoupled. The self-service mechanism allows the user to simply rotate the seat element to disengage the hooks from the engagement elements, making decoupling easy while maintaining strong anchoring through the ISO-FIX system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into a fixed car base with ISO-FIX anchoring and a rotatable supporting body with the seat element. This segmentation allows the anchoring system to remain stable and strong while the rotatable portion provides ease of operation for coupling and decoupling, separating the strength function from the ease-of-operation function.
Data Source
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AI summary
Child car seat (1), particularly for carrying children, which comprises a car base (2) which can be associated detachably, via fixing means (3), with a seat of a car, and a seat element (10), which can be associated detachably with the car base (2) via engagement/disengagement means (4) supported by the car base (2) comprising at least one hook (14) which can be associated with a first seat element and with a second seat element, different from the first seat element, the first seat element being of the type adapted to be used exclusively so that the child sits against the direction of travel of the car and the second seat element being of the type adapted to be used so that the child can sit against the direction of travel of the car or facing the direction of travel of the car; the engagement/disengagement means (4) are configured to allow the coupling of the second seat element to a rotatable supporting base (2b) in both longitudinal directions and of the first seat element to the rotatable supporting base (2b) in only one longitudinal orientation.