US7055903B2 — Adjustor for juvenile vehicle seat

Claim 1

Independent Claim 109 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a dial actuator coupled to the back support for rotational movement relative to the back support, the dial actuator actuating a lock-release mechanism of the height-adjustment mechanism and freeing the headrest for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 109 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a dial actuator coupled to the back support for rotational movement relative to the back support, the dial actuator actuating a lock-release mechanism of the height-adjustment mechanism and freeing the headrest for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

The juvenile seat of claim 1 , wherein the lock-release mechanism includes a cam coupled to the dial actuator for movement with the dial actuator and a lock coupled to the headrest and movable between a locked position engaged with the back support of the seat shell and an unlocked position disengaged from the back support of the seat shell.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

The juvenile seat of claim 2 , further comprising vertically-spaced lock-receiving slots provided on the back support of the seat shell and wherein the lock includes an arm received within one of the lock-receiving slots in the locked position and disengaged from the lock-receiving slots in the unlocked position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

The juvenile seat of claim 3 , wherein the lock-release mechanism further includes a spring arranged to bias the lock to the locked position received within one of the lock-receiving slots and the cam includes an angled cam surface arranged to engage the lock and move the lock to the unlocked position when the dial actuator is rotated about the axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The juvenile seat of claim 2 , wherein the lock-release mechanism further includes a coupling-member having a first end coupled to the dial actuator and a second end coupled to the cam and wherein rotational movement of the dial actuator is translated through the coupling-member to cause the cam to move upwardly and downwardly.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The juvenile seat of claim 5 , wherein the coupling member is flexible.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 90 words

The juvenile seat of claim 1 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism includes a housing cover coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, a lock coupled to the housing cover and arranged to move relative to the housing cover between a locked position engaged with the back support of the seat shell and an unlocked position disengaged from the back support, and a cam coupled to the dial actuator for movement with the actuator to engage the lock and move the lock to the unlocked position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 81 words

The juvenile seat of claim 7 , wherein the headrest includes a main body and first and second wing members coupled to the main body and oriented to lie at an angle relative to the main body and wherein the housing cover includes an upper portion engaged with the main body of the headrest, a first wing portion engaged with the first wing member of the headrest, and a second wing portion engaged with the second wing member of the headrest.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The juvenile seat of claim 8 , wherein the dial actuator is coupled to the upper portion of the housing cover.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The juvenile seat of claim 1 , wherein the dial actuator is arranged to rotate relative to the back support about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane through the back support.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The juvenile seat of claim 10 , wherein the back support is positioned between the headrest and the dial actuator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 85 words

The juvenile seat of claim 1 , wherein the dial actuator includes a first lug coupled to a first lock of the lock-release mechanism and a second lug coupled to a second lock of the lock-release mechanism and the dial actuator is arranged to move from a first position where the first and second locks are engaged with the back support of the seat shell to a second position where the first and second locks are disengaged from the back support of the seat shell.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 132 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a housing cover coupled to the headrest and movable with the headrest and a twist actuator coupled to the housing cover, the twist actuator moving between a locked position preventing up and down movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position permitting up and down movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 132 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a housing cover coupled to the headrest and movable with the headrest and a twist actuator coupled to the housing cover, the twist actuator moving between a locked position preventing up and down movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position permitting up and down movement of the headrest relative to the seat shell.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 97 words

The juvenile seat of claim 13 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism further includes a first set of vertically-spaced lock-receiving locators provided in a first guide rail coupled to the back support of the seat shell and a first lock arranged to move between a first position received within one of the first set of lock-receiving locators when the height-adjustment mechanism is in the locked position and a second position disengaged from the first guide rail when the height-adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked position, and the actuator is coupled to a rear side of the housing cover.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

The juvenile seat of claim 14 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism further includes a flexible member having a first end coupled to the actuator and a second end arranged to engage the first lock and move the first lock from the first position to the second position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 81 words

The juvenile seat of claim 15 , further comprising a cam coupled to the flexible member and wherein the actuator is arranged to move relative to the housing cover from a first position to a second position and the flexible member is arranged to move with the actuator such that the cam is disengaged from the first lock when the actuator is in the first position and is engaged with the first lock when the actuator is in the second position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

The juvenile seat of claim 15 , wherein a second end of the flexible member includes a cam having an angled surface formed to engage the first lock and urge the first lock from the first position to the second position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The juvenile seat of claim 14 , wherein the first set of lock-receiving locators are slots and the lock includes an arm received within one of the slots when the lock is in the first position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 85 words

The juvenile seat of claim 14 , further comprising a second set of lock-receiving locators provided in a second guide rail spaced-apart from the first guide rail and coupled to the back support of the seat shell and a second lock arranged to move between a first position received within one of the second set of lock-receiving locators when the height-adjustment mechanism is in the locked position and a second position disengaged from the guide rail when the height-adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 102 words

The juvenile seat of claim 19 , further comprising a first member having a first end coupled to the actuator and a second member having a first end coupled to the actuator, wherein the first and second members are arranged to move with the actuator relative to the housing cover and a second end of the first member includes a first cam arranged to engage the first lock when the actuator is in the unlocked position and a second end of the second member includes a second cam arranged to engage the second lock when the actuator is in the unlocked position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

The juvenile seat of claim 20 , wherein the actuator rotates between the locked and unlocked positions about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane through the back support and the first and second cams of the respective first and second members are arranged to move upwardly along the back support of the shell when the actuator is rotated between the locked and unlocked positions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The juvenile seat of claim 20 , wherein the first and second members are made from a flexible material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The juvenile seat of claim 19 , wherein the housing cover includes a first guide system and a second guide system and the first member is positioned within the first guide system and the second member is positioned within the second guide system.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The juvenile seat of claim 23 , wherein the first guide system is generally L-shaped and extends between the actuator and the first lock and the second guide system is generally L-shaped and extends between the actuator and the second lock.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 57 words

The juvenile seat of claim 13 , wherein the headrest includes a top surface and the back support includes a top surface and the top surface of the headrest is positioned above the top surface of the back support when the headrest is in a lowest position with respect to the seat bottom of the seat shell.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The juvenile seat of claim 25 , wherein the headrest includes an aperture arranged to receive a shoulder strap portion of a vehicle seat belt.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The juvenile seat of claim 13 , wherein an upper section of the back support is positioned between the headrest and the housing cover.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 111 words

The juvenile seat of claim 13 , further comprising a first guide rail coupled to the back support and a second guide rail coupled to the back support and spaced-apart from the first guide rail, and wherein the housing cover is generally U-shaped and includes an upper portion coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, a first arm coupled to the upper portion and received within the first guide rail for up and down movement within the first guide rail, and a second arm coupled to the upper portion and received within the second guide rail for up and down movement within the second guide rail.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The juvenile seat of claim 28 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the upper portion of the housing cover.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The juvenile seat of claim 29 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism further includes a spring arranged to bias the actuator to the first position.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

The juvenile seat of claim 29 , wherein the actuator is arranged to rotate about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the back support of the seat shell.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 93 words

The juvenile seat of claim 28 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism further includes a first lock coupled to the first arm of the housing cover and a second lock coupled to the second arm of the housing cover, the first lock is arranged to move from a first position engaged with the first guide rail and a second position disengaged from the first guide rail; and the second lock is arranged to move from a first position engaged with the second guide rail and a second position disengaged from the second guide rail.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 53 words

The juvenile seat of claim 32 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism includes a first spring arranged to bias the first lock in a direction toward the back support of the seat shell and a second spring arranged to bias the second lock in a direction toward the back support of the seat shell.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 48 words

The juvenile seat of claim 32 , further comprising a first member having a first end coupled to the actuator and a second end defining a first cam and a second member having a first end coupled to the actuator and a second end defining a second cam.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 61 words

The juvenile seat of claim 34 , wherein the first cam includes a cam surface arranged to engage the first lock to move the first lock from the first position to the second position and the second cam includes a cam surface arranged to engage the second lock to move the second lock from the first position to the second position.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 188 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell having a seat bottom and back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the back support and arranged to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the back support, a lock coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, the lock being moveable between a locked position engaged with the back support of the seat shell preventing the headrest from being moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position disengaged from the back support of the seat shell permitting the headrest to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the seat shell, and a cam coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, the cam being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the headrest engaging the lock and biasing the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position, and a rotatable actuator coupled to the cam, and wherein the headrest is moveable from a first position where the cam is disengaged from the lock and a second position where the cam is engaged with the lock.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 188 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell having a seat bottom and back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the back support and arranged to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the back support, a lock coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, the lock being moveable between a locked position engaged with the back support of the seat shell preventing the headrest from being moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the seat shell and an unlocked position disengaged from the back support of the seat shell permitting the headrest to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the seat shell, and a cam coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, the cam being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the headrest engaging the lock and biasing the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position, and a rotatable actuator coupled to the cam, and wherein the headrest is moveable from a first position where the cam is disengaged from the lock and a second position where the cam is engaged with the lock.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 25 words

The juvenile seat of claim 36 , further comprising a spring coupled to the rotatable actuator to bias the rotatable actuator to the first position.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 67 words

The juvenile seat of claim 36 , further comprising a generally L-shaped guide rail coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest and a coupling member coupled at a first end to the actuator and at a second end to the cam such that rotational movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position urges the cam to move upwardly.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 50 words

The juvenile seat of claim 36 , further comprising a spring coupled to the lock to urge the lock to move to the locked position in a direction toward the back support of the seat shell generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the back support of the seat shell.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 74 words

The juvenile seat of claim 36 , further including a slide rail coupled to the back support of the seat shell, wherein the slide rail includes a vertical channel formed to receive the lock and guide the lock as the headrest is moved upwardly and downwardly and the channel is defined by an end wall including a plurality of vertically-spaced slots formed to receive the lock when the lock is in the locked position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 42 words

The juvenile seat of claim 36 , further comprising a housing cover coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest, and wherein an upper section of the back support is positioned between the headrest and the housing cover.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 53 words

The juvenile seat of claim 41 , further including an actuator coupled to the housing cover for rotational movement relative to the housing cover wherein the cam is coupled to the actuator for movement with the actuator between a first position disengaged from the lock and a second position engaged with the lock.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 98 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a twist actuator means for rotational movement to actuate a lock-release mechanism of the height-adjustment mechanism to free the headrest for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 98 words

A juvenile seat comprising a seat shell including a seat bottom and a back support coupled to the seat bottom, a headrest coupled to the seat shell for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell to adjust a height of the headrest above the seat bottom of the seat shell, and a height-adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust the height of the headrest above the seat bottom, the height-adjustment mechanism including a twist actuator means for rotational movement to actuate a lock-release mechanism of the height-adjustment mechanism to free the headrest for up-and-down movement relative to the seat shell.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-06-05	2009-12-05	2010-06-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-06-05	2013-12-05	2014-06-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-06-05	2017-12-05	2018-06-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adjustor for juvenile vehicle seat

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