Rotating Child Seat Base With Safe Orientation Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child seat systems lack flexibility and safety in changing the orientation of the seat element, particularly in ensuring reliable and safe transitions between forward-facing and rear-facing positions.

Innovation Solution

A child seat system with a base that includes a rotating element and a detachable seat element, allowing for rotation and removal from the base, featuring a locking mechanism to restrict undesirable orientations and ensure safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the seat element is made rotatable relative to the base to enable orientation changes, then the flexibility and adaptability of the child seat system is improved, but the reliability and safety during orientation transitions may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in orientationVSAvoidsafety during transition
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seat element is designed with rotatable capability relative to the base, allowing dynamic repositioning between forward-facing and rear-facing orientations. The rotating mechanism includes defined rotation paths and stop positions that ensure controlled movement while maintaining safety throughout the transition process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The child seat system is divided into separable components: a base element and a seat element that can be detached and reattached. This segmentation allows the seat element to be removed for cleaning or replacement while the base remains installed in the vehicle, and enables controlled rotation through defined angular positions during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the seat element can be completely removed from the base, then the ease of operation and maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional fastening and detachment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval and attachmentVSAvoidfastening mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device serves multiple functions: it secures the seat element to the base during normal use, enables controlled rotation to different orientations, and allows complete removal when needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, thereby managing complexity while providing versatile operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a locking mechanism is introduced to restrict undesirable orientations, then the safety and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety through orientation restrictionVSAvoidlocking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage at predetermined safe orientations during the rotation process. The system self-regulates by providing mechanical stops and locked positions that prevent the seat from settling in unsafe orientations, reducing the need for active user intervention while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4242056B1Child seat system, comprising a seat element and a basis mountable on a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CYBEX GMBH
  • EP4242056B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4242056B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4242056B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Child seat system comprising at least a first seat element (11a) and a base (10) that can be attached to a vehicle seat, wherein the base (10) has a plinth element (13) and a swivel element (14), wherein at least the swivel element (14) has at least one fastening device (18a-18d) for fastening the first seat element (11a), wherein the swivel element (14) is rotatably arranged on the plinth element (13) such that the swivel element (14) together with the seat element (11) is rotatable relative to the plinth element (13) for changing an orientation of the seat element (11a), wherein the seat element (11a) is removable from the base (10).