Harness for juvenile vehicle seat

Claim 2

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child and a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a vertical centerline of a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, wherein the body strap is configured to have an end at the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 3

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a right side and a left side and the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat extend between the right side and the left side.

Claim 4

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a seat bottom and the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat extend toward the seat bottom.

Claim 5

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a strap mount, wherein the seat includes a seat back and the strap mount is coupled to the seat back and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 6

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a buckle unit, wherein the seat includes a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, the buckle unit is coupled to a seat bottom and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 7

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a buckle unit, wherein the seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, the buckle unit is coupled to a seat bottom and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 8

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the buckle unit includes a crotch strap coupled to the seat bottom and a buckle coupled to the crotch strap and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 9

The child-restraint seat of claim 6 , wherein the buckle unit is coupled to two spaced-apart segments of the continuous body strap.

Claim 10

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child and a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, wherein the segments extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat cooperate to define an X-shaped anchor arranged to embrace the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 11

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child and a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, wherein the segments extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat cooperate to define an X-shaped anchor arranged to embrace the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 12

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the seat includes a seat back and the X-shaped anchor includes a first leg and a second leg positioned to lie between the first leg and the seat back.

Claim 13

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the body strap includes, in series, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments and the first, third, and fifth segments cooperate to define the X-shaped anchor.

Claim 14

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a strap buckle, wherein the strap buckle couples to two segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat to define a first leg of the X-shaped anchor and another segment extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat defines a second leg of the X-shaped anchor.

Claim 15

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the strap mount includes an extended member coupled to the seat back that couples the first and second middle parts to the seat back.

Claim 16

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the strap mount includes an extended member coupled to the seat back that couples the first and second middle parts to the seat back.

Claim 17

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, a strap mount, wherein the seat includes a seat back and the strap mount is coupled to the seat back and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and a strap buckle, wherein the body strap includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end and the strap buckle couples the first end of the body strap to one of the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 18

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, a strap mount, wherein the seat includes a seat back and the strap mount is coupled to the seat back and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and a strap buckle, wherein the body strap includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end and the strap buckle couples the first end of the body strap to one of the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 19

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, a strap mount, wherein the seat includes a seat back and the strap mount is coupled to the seat back and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and the body strap includes, in series, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments and the strap mount coupled to the second and fourth segments to the seat back.

Claim 20

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, a strap mount, wherein the seat includes a seat back and the strap mount is coupled to the seat back and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and the body strap includes, in series, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments and the strap mount coupled to the second and fourth segments to the seat back.

Claim 21

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the seat bottom is formed to include a first seat bottom aperture, and a second seat bottom aperture, the seat back is formed to include a first upper seat back aperture, a first lower seat back aperture positioned to lie between the first upper seat back aperture and the first seat bottom aperture, a second upper seat back aperture, and a second lower seat back aperture positioned to lie between the second upper seat back aperture and the second seat bottom aperture, the bottom part of the first restraint portion extends into the first seat bottom aperture, the top part of the first restraint portion extends into the first upper seat back aperture, the middle part of the first restraint portion extends through the first lower seat back aperture to form a first loop, the bottom part of the second restraint portion extends into the second seat bottom aperture, the top part of the second restraint portion extends into the second upper seat back aperture, and the middle part of the second restraint extends through the second lower seat back aperture to form a second loop.

Claim 22

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the seat bottom is formed to include a first seat bottom aperture, and a second seat bottom aperture, the seat back is formed to include a first upper seat back aperture, a first lower seat back aperture positioned to lie between the first upper seat back aperture and the first seat bottom aperture, a second upper seat back aperture, and a second lower seat back aperture positioned to lie between the second upper seat back aperture and the second seat bottom aperture, the bottom part of the first restraint portion extends into the first seat bottom aperture, the top part of the first restraint portion extends into the first upper seat back aperture, the middle part of the first restraint portion extends through the first lower seat back aperture to form a first loop, the bottom part of the second restraint portion extends into the second seat bottom aperture, the top part of the second restraint portion extends into the second upper seat back aperture, and the middle part of the second restraint extends through the second lower seat back aperture to form a second loop.

Claim 23

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the strap mount includes a rod positioned to lie in the first and second loops.

Claim 24

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, and a buckle unit, wherein the seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, the buckle unit is coupled to a seat bottom and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and the buckle unit includes a first latch plate coupled to slide on one of the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat and a second latch plate coupled to slide on one of the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 25

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, and a buckle unit, wherein the seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, the buckle unit is coupled to a seat bottom and the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and the buckle unit includes a first latch plate coupled to slide on one of the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat and a second latch plate coupled to slide on one of the segments of the body strap extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 26

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, and a strap retainer, wherein the strap retainer is coupled to the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions between the strap mount and a crotch restraint.

Claim 27

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, and a strap retainer, wherein the strap retainer is coupled to the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions between the strap mount and a crotch restraint.

Claim 28

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, and a strap buckle, wherein the body strap includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end and the strap buckle couples the first end of the body strap to one of the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 29

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child, a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, and a strap buckle, wherein the body strap includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end and the strap buckle couples the first end of the body strap to one of the segments of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 30

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the body strap includes, in series, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments and the strap buckle couples the first to the third segment.

Claim 31

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child and a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, wherein the body strap includes, in series, a first segment including a first end of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat, a second segment extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, a third segment extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat, a fourth segment extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and a fifth segment extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 32

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat adapted to seat a child and a continuous body strap having multiple segments configured to pass through apertures formed in the seat so that some of the segments extend across a forward-facing portion of the seat to restrain a child positioned in the seat and other segments extend across a rearward-facing portion of the seat to anchor the body strap to the seat, wherein the body strap includes, in series, a first segment including a first end of the body strap extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat, a second segment extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, a third segment extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat, a fourth segment extending across the forward-facing portion of the seat, and a fifth segment extending across the rearward-facing portion of the seat.

Claim 33

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the first and fifth segments cooperate to define a first leg of an X-shaped anchor, the third segment defines a second leg of the X-shaped anchor, and the X-shaped anchor secures the second and fourth segments to the seat.

Claim 34

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a buckle unit, wherein the seat includes a seat bottom and the buckle unit is coupled to the seat bottom and the second and fourth segments of the body strap.

Claim 35

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a strap buckle, wherein the first segment includes a first end of the body strap coupled to the strap buckle and the fifth segment of the body strap.

Claim 36

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the second segment is spaced apart from the fourth segment.

Claim 37

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the seat includes a seat back and the second segment is secured to the seat back at two spaced-apart locations.

Claim 38

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the strap mount includes a rod coupled to the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions.

Claim 39

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the strap mount includes a rod coupled to the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions.

Claim 40

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to define a back side of the seat and the rod is positioned to lie on the back side of the seat.

Claim 41

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the strap mount further includes a resilient member securing the rod to the seat.

Claim 42

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the body strap is configured to have an end at a back side of the seat.

Claim 43

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, a body strap including a first restraint portion positioned to lie on a front side of the seat and a second restraint portion positioned to lie on the front side of the seat, the first and second restraint portions including top parts secured to the seat back, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned to lie between the top and bottom parts, and a strap mount directly coupled to the seat back and the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions, wherein the body strap is configured to have an end at a back side of the seat.

Claim 44

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to define a back side of the seat and the strap mount is positioned to lie on the back side of the seat.

Claim 45

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising a crotch restraint spaced apart from the strap mount and coupled to the seat bottom and the first and second middle parts of the first and second restraint portions of the strap.

Claim 46

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the middle parts form loops coupled to the strap mount.

Claim 47

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the seat back and seat bottom cooperate to define a back side of the seat and the loops are positioned to lie on the back side of the seat.

Claim 48

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a front side adapted to receive a child seated thereon, a body strap including a first and second restraint portions configured to restrain a child positioned to lie in the seat, the restraint portions including top parts secured to the front side of the seat, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned between the top and bottom parts, and means for directly coupling the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions to the seat to establish a lower shoulder height without unsecuring the top parts of the first and second restraint portions from the seat.

Claim 49

A child-restraint apparatus comprising a seat having a front side adapted to receive a child seated thereon, a body strap including a first and second restraint portions configured to restrain a child positioned to lie in the seat, the restraint portions including top parts secured to the front side of the seat, bottom parts secured to the seat, and middle parts positioned between the top and bottom parts, and means for directly coupling the middle parts of the first and second restraint portions to the seat to establish a lower shoulder height without unsecuring the top parts of the first and second restraint portions from the seat.

Claim 50

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the coupling means includes a rod and means for coupling the rod to the seat.

Claim 51

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the coupling means includes means for restraining the middle part to the seat back and an elastic band coupling the restraining means to the seat back.

Claim 52

The child-restraint apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the coupling means includes a rod and an elastic band coupling the rod to the seat back.