Child Safety Seat Support Leg Locking Structure for Stable Unfolding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child safety seats lack a locking mechanism for their support legs, causing them to shake uncontrollably and fail to provide reliable support during sudden movements, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

A folding/unfolding positioning assembly with a first and second positioning member that locks when the support leg is unfolded, connected to a connecting assembly via a lower cover and fixing plate, featuring a slotted hole and protruding column for engagement, and optionally includes a restoring spring for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If no locking structure is provided for the support leg, then the structure is simple, but the support leg shakes uncontrollably and fails to provide reliable support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidsupport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is segmented into two separate positioning members: a first positioning member movably connected to the connecting assembly, and a second positioning member connected to the support leg. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first positioning member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically engage with the second positioning member. This dynamic engagement enables the locking function while maintaining a simple structure that only activates when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a locking structure is added to the support leg, then the support reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is merged into the existing connecting assembly and support leg structure through the positioning members. Rather than adding a completely separate locking mechanism, the design integrates the locking function into the components already present in the child safety seat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning members are designed to automatically engage and lock when the support leg is extended to its proper position. The system self-locks without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the support leg is made movable for folding, then the ease of operation improves, but the stability under external impact deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding convenienceVSAvoidsupport leg stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism provides preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing a locked state that prevents unwanted movement. When external impacts occur, the positioning members maintain their engaged state, counteracting the destabilizing forces before they can cause significant movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The support leg is designed to automatically lock into position when extended, performing the locking action in advance before any external impact occurs. This preliminary locking ensures stability is established before any destabilizing forces are applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design ensures the support leg remains locked in the unfolded position, providing stable support even under external impacts, enhancing safety by preventing uncontrollable movement.

Implementation Method 1

a restoring spring arranged between the first positioning member and the lower cover

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4292876B1Supporting leg positioning structure and child safety seat
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NINGBO BABY FIRST BABY PROD CO LTD
  • EP4292876B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4292876B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4292876B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a support leg positioning structure and a child safety seat including the same. The support leg positioning structure includes a folding/unfolding positioning assembly (1), a connecting assembly (2), and a support leg (3) hingedly connected to the connecting assembly. The folding/unfolding positioning assembly (1) includes a first positioning member (11) and a second positioning member (12) configured to engage with each other. The first positioning member (11) is movably connected to the connecting assembly (2). A first end of the second positioning member (12) is connected to the support leg (3). A second end of the second positioning member (12) is hingedly connected to the connecting assembly (2). When the support leg (3) is in an unfolded position, the first positioning member (11) and the second positioning member (12) are locked to each other. In the support leg positioning structure of the present disclosure, with the arrangement of the folding/unfolding positioning assembly (1) between the connecting assembly (2) and the support leg (3), the support leg (3) can be locked with the connecting assembly (2) when the support leg (3) is in the unfolded position, thereby effectively supporting the child safety seat to ensure the safety of a child in the child safety seat on a vehicle. The folding/unfolding positioning assembly (1) features a simple structure and convenient and reliable operation.