US-20260124971-A1 - INFANT CAR SEAT BASE ATTACHMENT MECHANISM

US20260124971A1US 20260124971 A1US20260124971 A1US 20260124971A1US-20260124971-A1

Abstract

An infant car seat system includes a base including a first pair of brackets and a second pair of brackets; and an infant car seat including a first pair of locking pins positioned and arranged to be locked via the first pair of brackets and a second pair of locking pins positioned and arranged to be locked via the second pair of brackets, the infant car seat further including a release handle configured to allow the user to unlock the first pair of locking pins from the first pair of brackets, after which the user is able to at least partially lift the infant car seat from the base, the at least partial lifting causing the second pair of locking pins to become unlocked from the second pair of brackets.

Inventors

Mark Matthew Messner
Mitchell L. Shellenberger
Quentin G. Walsh
Brandon Hoover

Assignees

BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251217

Claims (11)

1 . An infant car seat system comprising: a base including a first pair of brackets and a second pair of brackets; and an infant car seat including a first pair of locking pins positioned and arranged to be locked via the first pair of brackets and a second pair of locking pins positioned and arranged to be locked via the second pair of brackets, the infant car seat further including a release handle configured to allow the user to unlock the first pair of locking pins from the first pair of brackets, after which the user is able to at least partially lift the infant car seat from the base, the at least partial lifting causing the second pair of locking pins to become unlocked from the second pair of bracket.
2 . The infant car seat system of claim 1 , which includes first members extending from the release handle to first and second release mechanisms, respectively, the first and second release mechanisms holding one each of the first pair of locking pins.
3 . The infant car seat system of claim 2 , wherein the base includes first and second projections, the projections holding one each of the first pair of brackets, and wherein the first and second release mechanisms extend around the first and second projections, respectively.
4 . The infant car seat system of claim 3 , which includes second members extending from the first and second release mechanisms, each second member extending to an inverting mechanism, and wherein a third member extends from the inverting mechanism to one of the second pair of locking pins.
5 . The infant car seat system of claim 4 , wherein the inverting mechanism is rotatably connected to the infant car seat.
6 . The infant car seat system of claim 4 , wherein each of the second members is formed with or attached to a connector that includes a ramped surface that engages a ramped outer surface of one of the first and second projections.
7 . The infant car seat system of claim 6 , which includes first and second compression springs compressed between the connectors and the first and second release mechanisms, respectively, wherein the compression springs remain compressed until the user is able to at least partially lift the infant car seat from the base.
8 . The infant car seat system of claim 7 , wherein the compression springs expanding due to the user at least partially lifting the infant car seat from the base cause the second members to pull one each of the second pair of locking pins from the second pair of brackets.
9 . The infant car seat system of claim 8 , wherein the compression springs expanding due to the user at least partially lifting the infant car seat from the base is enabled by the user actuating the release handle to unlock the first pair of locking pins from the first pair of brackets.
10 . The infant car seat system of claim 6 , wherein the ramped surfaces of the second members are able to slide against the ramped outer surfaces of the first and second projections when the user actuates the release handle to unlock the first pair of locking pins from the first pair of brackets.
11 . The infant car seat system of claim 4 , wherein each of the second pair of locking pins is held by a connector, each third member extending to one of the connectors, and wherein a compression spring is located within each connector, the compression spring biased to push against the connector and an end of the respective third member.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/185,664 filed on Mar. 17, 2023, titled INFANT CAR SEAT BASE ATTACHMENT MECHANISM, which claims priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/326,036 filed Mar. 31, 2022, titled INFANT CAR SEAT BASE ATTACHMENT MECHANISM, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and relied upon. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to infant's and children's car seats. An infant car seat is a seat made specifically for infants and younger babies. The seats typically face the rear of the car and are used from day one until the baby reaches the seat's maximum height or weight limit (typically between 22 to 35 pounds depending on the specifics of the infant car seat. The infant car seat is one of the most important items of baby gear. If a parent plans on taking their baby for a ride in the car, an infant car seat is a must have. While infant car seat laws differ from state to state, most states require infants younger than one to be restrained in a rear-facing infant car seat. Moreover, most hospitals will not discharge the baby without a car seat. Infant car seats are designed to attach to a base. The base remains installed in the car, held in place by the automobile's rear seat straps and buckles. It is desirable to have a number of points of attachment between the car seat and the base. In this way, if one attachment mechanism between the infant car seat and the base fails, or is improperly latched, the car seat nevertheless remains securely attached to the base. Certain infant car seats are able to be removed from the base and inserted into a stroller. In this way, the infant does not need to be removed from the car seat and be placed in a separate seat associated with the stroller and vice versa, e.g., if the baby is sleeping. The need for multiple point attachment of the car seat to the base and the need for the car seat to be able to be attached to both the base and a stroller creates a relatively complex attachment and removal situation. Many commercial infant car seat systems are cumbersome regarding insertion and removal of the car seat from the base and a stroller. Therefore, an improved infant car seat system is needed. SUMMARY The present disclosure sets forth an improved infant car seat system including an infant car seat and a base therefore. The car seat includes a release handle. The release handle is formed with or connects to a bridge member, which splits to both sides of the car seat. In this manner, a single actuation of the release handle unlocks locking mechanisms on both sides of the car seat and base. A first member extends from each end of the bridge member to a release mechanism, such that a first member and a release mechanism reside on both sides of the car seat. In a variety of embodiments, the first member is formed with the release mechanism. Any rigid part or flexible of the car seat and the base of the car seat system of the present disclosure may be made (e.g., molded) of any one or more plastic such as, but not limited to polyvinylchloride (“PVC”), polyethylene (“PE”), polyurethane (“PU”), polycarbonate (“PC”) and/or polyetheretherketone (“PEEK”). Any rigid part of the car seat and the base may be made (e.g., machined, formed or cast) alternatively or additionally of any one or more metal, e.g., stainless steel, steel and/or aluminum. It should be noted that, in a variety of embodiments, any combination of materials can be used in the construction of the car seat system. In many embodiments, the release mechanism is a generally four-sided structure, open on its top or bottom, wherein the release mechanism holds a first locking pin. The first locking pin clips into a first bracket held by the base when the car seat is locked to the base. The locking of the first locking pin to the first bracket creates two points of locking connection between the car seat and the base. When the user pulls the release handle, the release handle in turn pulls the connected first members and release mechanisms. Moving the release mechanisms causes the first locking pins held by the release mechanisms to come free from the first brackets of the base. In this manner, two points of locking connection between the car seat and the base are disengaged. A second member is provided for each side of the car seat. Each second member in a variety of embodiments attaches to a first connector, which extends up through the bottom of and into the inside of the four-sided release mechanism. The top of the base is formed with a projection, e.g., a generally U-shaped projection, which includes a pair of forked legs. A space between the forked legs of the projection in a variety of embodiments houses the first bracket that locks to the first locking pin. A first leg of the U-shaped projection of the base includes a ramped outer surface, which