Telescopic Connecting Bar With Three-State Latch for Child Seat Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety seat mounting systems are cumbersome, space inefficient, and lack a user-friendly mechanism for adjusting the length of connectors, making secure installation in vehicles challenging.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable connecting bar with a coupling device that transforms between locked and release configurations, featuring a telescopic design with a single latch controlling three states for length adjustment, allowing easy installation and secure attachment to vehicle seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manually operable mechanism is used for adjusting connector length, then the mounting system can be operated, but the system becomes cumbersome and space inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the adjustment mechanism directly into the connecting bar structure itself, merging the function of length adjustment with the connector body. This eliminates the need for separate manual adjustment mechanisms arranged between connectors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operability through a streamlined integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting bar employs a telescopic design where one bar member is nested within another, allowing compact storage when retracted and extended configuration when needed. This nesting approach space-efficiently accommodates the adjustment mechanism within the connector structure rather than requiring external space
2Device complexity
If the adjustment mechanism is separate from the connectors, then the connectors can be simple, but the mechanism takes up a great deal of space
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is merged with the connecting bar structure, integrating the length adjustment function directly into the connector body. This eliminates the need for separate external adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing the volume occupied by moving parts while maintaining the capability for length adjustment
3Device complexity
If a single latch controls three states, then the mechanism becomes compact and user-friendly, but the latch must perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 1:
The single latch is designed to perform multiple functions: it can lock the connecting bar at different extended positions, allow controlled retraction, and secure the bar in various configurations. This multi-functional latch design achieves compactness while maintaining the adaptability needed for different mounting scenarios through its ability to assume multiple operational states
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustable connecting bar (100, 100′) for releasable fastening of a child safety seat (400) to a vehicle seat (502) having fixedly mounted anchoring members (504). The connecting bar (100, 100′) comprises: a coupling device (104) transformable between a locked configuration and a release configuration, a first elongated bar member (112) extending along a longitudinal axis between a first distal end (108a) provided with the coupling device (104) and a first proximal end (108b), a second elongated bar member (130) extending along a longitudinal axis between a second distal end (132a) and a second proximal end (132b), wherein the first and second elongated bar members (112, 130) are telescopically interconnected and arranged for relative displacement via one or more intermediate positions between a retracted end position and an extended end position of the connecting bar (100,100′), wherein the first elongated bar member (112) comprises an actuation member (116) movably arranged relative the first elongated bar member (112) along the longitudinal axis of the first elongated bar member (112), wherein the connecting bar (100, 100′) further comprises a latch (124) being rotatably connected to the first elongated bar member (112), wherein the latch (124), in a first state, is configured to prevent both extension and retraction of the connecting bar (100, 100′), wherein the latch (124), in a second state, is configured to prevent extension and allow retraction of the connecting bar (100, 100′), and wherein the latch (124), in a third state, is configured to allow both extension and retraction of the connecting bar (100, 100′). The invention further relates to an adjustable mounting arrangement and a child safety seat.