Abstract: A multi-passenger vehicle child seat assembly for permitting an adult passenger to comfortably sit with first and second infant passengers in a rear seat of an existing vehicle preferably includes a mechanism for removably interlocking the first and second vehicle child seats together by displacing the medial edges along a first linear travel path until directly engaging each other. The assembly may also include a mechanism for absorbing impact forces exerted against the first and second vehicle child seats by resiliently oscillating the medial edges along a second linear travel path.

Abstract: A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact.

Abstract: A base for fixing the safety seating system in a passenger car has an external guiding member that more than equatorially encompasses an internal guiding member for a direct spherical guiding of a removable seated newly born infant. The infant is seated with respect to the geometrical pivoting center and an overall mass axis of the rotating portions such that neck bending and head whip lashing are minimized during a vehicle crash. The encompassing spherical and direct guiding provides for a free impact aligned reorientation of the seated infant unimpeded by adjacent elements of the car that are eventually forced into contact during crash. The direct spherical guiding provides also for a lightweight construction of the rotating portions with low momentum of inertia and consequently high responsiveness of the safety seating system.

Abstract: A head and body protection assembly which includes a safety seat shell and a plurality of chambers secured to the shell. A belt which includes a plurality of chambers is placed across the lap or mid section of an individual in the seat. The chambers are inflated to a pre-selected pressure which provides protection of the occupant of the seat from side, rear and frontal impacts. The chambers or pads are inflated or deflated to permit the chambers or pads to be adjusted to the size of the occupant of the seat. The assembly includes a device to indicate the correct inflation pressure. The chambers are fluidly interconnected to distribute fluid throughout the assembly to help absorb the impact of the head of the occupant. The chambers can be filled with an energy absorbing foam.

Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.

Abstract: Improvements for child restraint systems are directed specifically to the covers, handles, and harnesses thereof. A child restraint cover is readily removed without having to detach the harness from the seat. A soft and semi rigid child restraint handle includes members that are tied together in a crossover fashion. Another handle of the invention spans above the restraint in a head to foot direction. A further handle design includes dual integrated handles. 5-point and 7-point harnesses that do not require threading a child's limbs through harness loops are also provided. A harness height adjuster is also described.

Abstract: A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact.

Abstract: A child restraint apparatus relates to holding a child within a vehicle interior. The apparatus has a body with an internal area for receiving a child. An energy absorbing member extends in use over at least part of an external surface of the body. This energy absorbing member faces away from the internal area.

Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.

Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.

Abstract: A child restraint seat which changes the position of the occupant and dissipates kinetic energy during a collision. An exemplary embodiment rearward-facing child restraint seat shifts the occupant to translate forward and/or move from a relatively reclined position to a relatively upright position during a vehicular collision. Additionally, some of the kinetic energy of the occupant is dissipated through the use of an energy absorbing element, which limits loading on the occupant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a child restraint system (1) with a base (2) having a lower surface resting on a sitting portion of a vehicle, where the base (2) through ISOFIX latching means is engaged with anchorage means (12) in the vehicle seat (13), thereby providing a pivot connection between the base (2) and the anchorage means (12). Through an energy absorbing mechanism (7) impact energy can be absorbed, thus reducing the degree of rotation of the child restraint (1).

Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformable structure to attach a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle comprises a bracket. The bracket includes a base configured to be coupled to the mounting portion of the vehicle, a metal strap positioned in the base such that a first end of the metal strap is configured to be free and coupled to the child safety seat, a second end of the metal strap is separably attached to the base, and a body of the metal strap is bent between the first end and the second end. When the metal strap is pulled in tension, the metal strap tears from the base, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.

Abstract: A head protection assembly which can be secured to a seat includes a plurality of chambers or pads, inflated to a pre-selected pressure which provide protection of the occupant of the seat from side and rear impacts. The head protection assembly is placed in a seat in lateral alignment with the side of the head of an occupant of the seat and adjusted to restrain movements of the head caused by vehicle collisions. The chambers or pads are inflated or deflated to permit the chambers or pads to be adjusted to the size of the occupant of the seat. The assembly includes a device to indicate the correct inflation pressure. The chambers or pads are fluidly interconnected to distribute fluid throughout the assembly to help absorb the impact of the head of the occupant. The chambers or pads can be secured to an existing seat to afford additional protection or can be incorporated into the seat during the manufacture of the seat. An inflatable body restraint can also be provided to help protect the occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact.

Abstract: An energy absorbing tether assembly for use with a child safety seat of the type having a pair of spaced apart slots in a shell.

Abstract: Energy absorbing webbing is provided for use in child safety seat and child restraint devices. A harness system includes energy-absorbing regions into the construction of the harness to allow some release or extension of the harness during use. The energy-absorbing regions of the harness are formed using energy-absorbing webbing in a given region or regions to permit the webbing to extend or elongate so that strong forces are not fully and directly imparted to the child. The energy-absorbing region may be installed at various positions within the child safety seat and harness system and may be incorporated into the child safety harness as original equipment or as a retrofit feature.

Abstract: A headrest control apparatus includes: a headrest moving mechanism that supports a headrest in such a manner that at least one of a rotation of the headrest about an axis of the headrest, which extends in the vehicle-height direction, and a movement of the headrest in the vehicle-width direction is permitted; a drive unit that causes at least one of the rotation and the movement of the headrest; and a control unit that controls the drive unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing a child seat to a support structure (1) of a motor vehicle, with an, in particular, plastically deformable holding device (10), which is fixed to the support structure (1) and has a holding element (16) to which a fixing element (18), which is attached to the child seat, can be fixed. In order to permit a defined movement of the holding element during deformation of the holding device, the holding device (10) has at least one bending axis (11), along which the holding device can be deformed when a force, in particular a tensile force, acts on the holding element (16).

Abstract: A load-limited seat base for a child safety seat, including an attachment element carried by the seat base for attaching the seat base to a seating element, and a transversely-extending load absorbing assembly positioned in the base and cooperating with the seating element to permit the seating element to be selectively positioned in a recline position and an upright position relative to the base. The load absorbing assembly includes an elongate deforming member and a positioning block having at least a first recline position and a second upright position corresponding to the recline position and the upright position within which the deforming member is positioned. The deforming member is selectively positionable in the positioning block to position the seating element in the selected recline or upright position.

Abstract: A child safety seat is provided. The safety seat includes a generally L-shaped shell having a seat bottom and a seat back, a harness assembly carried by the shell for restraining an occupant in the seat, a restraining member for receiving a latching assembly for securing the safety seat into a support position on a vehicle seat in a manner, and at least one area of predetermined reduced material thickness formed into the shell in the rearward portion of the seat bottom. The area of reduce material thickness defines a crush zone of reduced capacity to resist a downward movement-induced load on the seat bottom indicative of the sudden forward travel decceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A juvenile motion-inhibitor system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat including a seat bottom and a seat back that is arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile motion-inhibitor system also includes one or more cushions to assist in cushioning a child in the event an external force is applied to the seat bottom or back.

Abstract: A hidden-type automobile child safety seat assembly has three types of safety seats respectively mounted in different portions of the rear bench of a passenger car and includes: one first safety seat, one second safety seat and one third safety seat. The first seating portion is pivotally connected to the bottom of the rear bench. The second safety seat comprises a second seating portion, and a protective bar. The second seating portion and the protective bar are pivotally connected to the back of the rear bench. The third safety seat comprises a third seating portion. The third seating portion is pivotally connected to the back of the rear bench. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to spend time and labor to install the child safety seat. Therefore, it is very convenient to use this inventive child safety seat.

Abstract: A child car seat subframe that is easily disassembled into component sections for washing within a residential-sized dishwasher. The car seat subframe can be disassembled by hand, and each individual component is cable of fitting in a residential-sized dishwasher individually and collectively. The component sections are attached by a combination of registration tabs and slots, and held tightly together by fasteners, or attached by a combination of tongue and groove joints. Hanging devices, such as hooks, may be formed on one side of each component section to facilitate hanging on racks in a dishwasher. The car seat subframe back panel and side panels are disassembled into a plurality of segments for easily fitting in a dishwasher.

Abstract: A child seat includes: a base member; a seat body switchable at least between a forward facing state and a sideways facing state in a bed shape on the base member; a tension member attached to a front end of the base member and extending to a position where the tension member abuts on a floor of an automobile; and a support member supported by the tension member so as to be displaceable between an upper position and a lower position. A side engagement portion is provided in a side surface of the seat body. The side engagement portion engages with the support member when the support member is brought to the upper position in the sideways facing state in the bed shape.

Abstract: A child restraint apparatus relates to holding a child within a vehicle interior. The apparatus has a body with an internal area for receiving a child. An energy absorbing member extends in use over at least part of an external surface of the body. This energy absorbing member faces away from the internal area.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a child safety seat comprising: (a) a supporting base structure adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat; (b) a child seating surface wherein the seating surface comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and wherein the seat back has disposed therein at least one pair of laterally spaced shoulder belt restraints; (c) a child harness wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder belts running from the restraints in the seat back to a seat bottom locking tongue, each shoulder belt having a restraint engaging means affixed to an extreme end of the belt for insertion into the laterally spaced pair of restraints in the seat back, and a buckle affixed to the front center portion of the seat bottom for receiving the seat bottom locking tongue; and (d) an emergency means of disengaging at least one of shoulder belts from at least one of the restraints in the back of the seat, the disengaging means being actuated from the rear face or side of the seat.

Abstract: A child restraint seat which changes the position of the occupant and dissipates kinetic energy during a collision. An exemplary embodiment rearward-facing child restraint seat shifts the occupant to translate forward and/or move from a relatively reclined position to a relatively upright position during a vehicular collision. Additionally, some of the kinetic energy of the occupant is dissipated through the use of an energy absorbing element, which limits loading on the occupant.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformable structure to attach a child seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The energy-absorbing deformable structure comprises a loop of metal rod including a base end configured to be coupled to the mounting portion of the vehicle, a distal end configured to be coupled to a child safety seat, and a plurality of sinuous deformable portions positioned intermediate to the base end and the distal end, wherein each of the sinuous deformable portions includes an inwardly extending portion that extends inward from a perimeter of the deformable structure to a substantially central interior region of the deformable structure; wherein the sinuous deformable portions of the deformable structure are configured to be deformed when the base end and distal end are pulled in tension, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: A deformable, polypropylene-moulding lining (11), is provided in a head rest. It has a crosspiece (12), clipped (14) to the head support (5) and right and left deformable wings (15, 16). These are longer than the support wings (5, 6) of the head part (4), extending past distal edges (17) of the support wings. The deformable wings are spaced inwards from the support wings, with voids (18) defined between them. The deformable wings are divided into two in their forwards extent by a living hinge (19) into a front portion (20) and a rear portion (21). The living hinge is positioned just inside the distal edges of the shell wings. The injection moulded lining has its own foam materiel lining (22), the whole being covered with upholstery (23). The result of the arrangement is that if an occupant's head H impacts the lining in side impact of the vehicle equipped with the seat, the relevant lining wing will be pressed against the shell wing.

Abstract: A belt guiding mechanism, for example for a child vehicle seat, which is suitable for guiding a belt extending through the belt guiding mechanism and locking said belt against movement. The belt guiding mechanism comprises a cam that is capable of pivoting movement relative to a bearing surface, said belt being movable in a tensioning direction and in the opposite direction through a passage present between said cam and said bearing surface. The cam is pivotable in a direction towards the bearing surface for locking the belt against movement. The cam is connected to a sleeve that can be positioned against a person's shoulder, in which sleeve the belt is slidably accommodated.

Abstract: An energy absorption device including an elastic core. The elastic core includes an elastic material, a covering enclosing the elastic core, and at least one flow device. Air contained in the elastic core may escape through the flow device into the space outside the covering when the elastic core is compressed. Additionally, air flows through the flow device into the space enclosed by the covering when the elastic core expands. The covering is constructed of a flexible, expansion-resistant material. The flow device is designed in the form of at least one connecting point between the covering elements of the covering such that air can escape from the elastic core or can flow into the elastic core through the connecting point.

Abstract: A child safety seat assembly, including a base for being positioned on a vehicle seat bottom. An anti-rebound bar is carried by the base and extends outwardly and upwardly from a foot end of the base for engaging a seat back of the vehicle seat to which the seat is attached for retarding inertia-induced rotation of the base and the attached carrier by transmitting rotational force applied to the seat during a sudden change in velocity into the seat back of the vehicle seat onto which the seat is attached.

Abstract: An energy absorbing tether assembly for use with a child safety seat of the type having a pair of spaced apart slots in a shell.

Abstract: A seat for providing an improved level of protection to a child by reducing the amount of force restraining straps exert upon the child during a collision. The seat includes a seat frame and a cover positioned over the seat frame to provide comfort to a seat occupant. The seat frame includes a seat back with a slot for receiving a strap for restraining a seat occupant and an energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member reduces the amount of force applied by the strap to the seat occupant during a sudden deceleration of the seat.

Abstract: A seat for providing an improved level of protection to a child by reducing the amount of force restraining straps exert upon the child during a collision. The seat includes a seat frame and a cover positioned over the seat frame to provide comfort to a seat occupant. The seat frame includes a seat back with a slot for receiving a strap for restraining a seat occupant and an energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member reduces the amount of force applied by the strap to the seat occupant during a sudden deceleration of the seat and comprises an elongated weakness area extending from a bottom edge of the slot. The energy absorbing member is adapted for progressive separation from the seat back during a sudden deceleration, whereby the strap is allowed to move forward, at a controlled rate, a predetermined distance during the sudden deceleration of the seat.

Abstract: A base (1) for a child safety seat to be used with an adult seat in a vehicle equipped with ISOFIX loops comprises an upper moulding (2) and a lower moulding (3) screwed and clipped together. The upper moulding comprises a pair of front humps (8) and a pair of rear humps (9) with a flat portion (10) between the pairs. The humps have moulded recesses (11) for the front and rear anchor bars (51, 52) of a conventional infant carrier (53). Below release button (61) the base has formation (71) for pivotal connection of foot prop (72) is clipped up under the base, anti-rebound flap (38) is folded against the prop and ISOFIX latches (34) are pivoted in towards the front of the base. For use, ISOFIX latches (34) are turned backwards, anti-rebound member (38) is swung around from below to above the base and foot prop (72) is extended down to abut the floor. To fit infant carrier (53), its anchor bars (51, 52) are engaged in recesses (11) and the infant carrier is pushed down to push hooks (45) away.

Abstract: An infant restraint for a motor vehicle comprising a base (10) located on and secured to the seat of a motor vehicle, an infant seat (12) releasably attached to the base (10) and a hook arrangement between the base (10) and the infant seat (12) that operatively engages the infant seat (12) to hold the infant seat with respect to the base (10) when the infant seat (12) is forced forward with respect to the base (10). The invention provides a means of holding the infant seat (12) to the base (10) that becomes active during a vehicle collision.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a child safety seat comprising: (a) a supporting base structure adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat; (b) a child seating surface wherein the seating surface comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and wherein the seat back has disposed therein at least one pair of laterally spaced buckles; (c) a child restraint harness wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder restraint belts running from the laterally spaced buckles in the seat back to a seat bottom locking tongue, each shoulder restraint belt having a locking tongue affixed to an extreme end of the belt for insertion into the laterally spaced pair of buckles in the seat back, and a buckle affixed to the front center portion of the seat bottom for receiving the seat bottom locking tongue; and (d) an emergency means of disengaging the pair of shoulder restraint belt locking tongues from the seat back buckles, the disengaging means being actuated from the rear face of the seat back.

Abstract: A head guard arrangement includes a flexible pad (10A) in direct contact with and enclosing the head top region and temporal region of the head of a baby (100), an impact absorption pad (20A) at an outer side of the flexible pad (10A), enclosing the head top region and temporal region of the baby (100), and a fixture pad (30A) having a configuration with an outer perimeter contour that is in accord with the inner perimeter contour of a sidewall (1) of a child seat or carrier or the like so as to fill the gap between the impact absorption pad (20A) and the sidewall (1). With this structure, the head guard arrangement protects the head and brain of an infant against impact injuries.

Abstract: A safety device is characterized is made by a chamber (1) of flexible walls filled with air and a nipple (5) to facilitate the progressive outflow of the air when the chamber (1) is highly pressed. The nipple (5) has a valve (6) to prevent the accidental outflow under low pressures of the air occupying the chamber (1) and to give way when receiving a high pressure thereby facilitating the outflow of the air. The chamber (1) is preferentially subdivided into several departments (2, 3 and 4) each of them having a nipple (5) for the outflow of the air. The chamber (1) and the valve (6) are arranged in the inside of the complementary side members (7) of the backrest (8) of the infant seat and in the complementary side members (9) of the headrest (10) of the backrest.

Abstract: A child restraint system is provided for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure a child seat onto a seat of a vehicle and whether a child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain a child within the child seat. The child restraint system includes a vehicle seat belt tension sensor and status indicator and a child seat harness tension sensor and status indicator. The child restraint system further includes an occupant sensor for determining whether a child is seated within the child seat. If the occupant sensor determines that a child is seated within the child seat, the vehicle seat belt status indicator is disabled, thereby preventing the weight of the child from interfering with the proper installation of the child seat onto the seat of the vehicle by applying a downward force to the vehicle seat belt tension sensor.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle seat comprising a seat surface which extends along a longitudinal direction of the seat, a securing element assigned to the seat surface and a drive device which is operatively connected to the securing element and is activated in a crash situation, in order to move the securing element out of a starting position, without changing the spatial position thereof, so that the seat surface and the securing element oppose the forward displacement of the pelvis of a person sitting on the seat surface in the longitudinal direction of the seat.

Abstract: A car seat for several children and to sit on top of a regular car seat has leg assemblies arranged to absorb energy and reduce pitching in the event of a car crash.

Abstract: A juvenile restraint system includes a juvenile seat and a tether coupled at one end to the juvenile seat and at an opposite end to an anchor provided in a vehicle.

Abstract: An attachment assembly for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The attachment assembly may include a guide having a channel, and a metal strap positioned in the channel of the guide in a retracted configuration such that a free end of the metal strap is adjacent to a front face of the guide, a fixed end of the metal strap is secured to a side of the channel, and a body of the strap is bent along a radius so as to double back between the free end and the fixed end. When pulled in tension, the metal strap is configured to transition from the retracted configuration to an extended configuration, and the guide is configured to constrain the strap during this transition so that the strap rolls along the radius within the guide, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: A child safety seat tether anchor for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The child safety seat tether anchor may comprise a metal strip configured to be coupled with the child safety seat, an engagement structure having a surface where the engagement structure is configured to be fixed to the mounting portion of the vehicle, and a plurality of pins extending from the surface of the engagement structure and positioned along a length of the metal strip. The metal strip is bent by the plurality of pins along a length of the metal strip. When pulled in tension, the metal strip is configured to slide while bending around the pins between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformable structure to attach a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle comprises a bracket. The bracket includes a base configured to be coupled to the mounting portion of the vehicle, a metal strap positioned in the base such that a first end of the metal strap is configured to be free and coupled to the child safety seat, a second end of the metal strap is separably attached to the base, and a body of the metal strap is bent between the first end and the second end. When the metal strap is pulled in tension, the metal strap tears from the base, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: The invention as presently conceived discloses a unique system and method for an improved infant car seat having an integral extra transportation apparatus combining the functionality of a car seat with a stroller into one device. The apparatus generally resembles a conventional infant car seat but with an overhead handle that can be extracted from behind the headrest with a set of two folding legs extending downward and locking in place. Each extended leg has a pair of wheels that when used in conjunction with the handle allows the entire apparatus to serve as an infant stroller in a manner similar to a wheelbarrow. A third brace leg has a stabilizing rubber foot that extends down from behind the seat to allow the apparatus to safely stand unassisted. This novel apparatus and system will permit a care giver to remove the apparatus from a vehicle with the infant remaining in the seat, and by extending the legs into place, transform the apparatus into a stroller.