Child restraint apparatus for a vehicle

Abstract

A child restraint apparatus connectable to a vehicle and having a chassis with a back portion and a seat portion. A U-shaped guard is pivotally connected to the chassis so as to be movable between an up position and a down position, in the down position the guard forming a frontal and lateral barrier around the child. A seat member of appropriate size is detachably connected to the seat portion of the chassis. A harness assembly is connected to the seat member. The harness assembly comprises a retractor assembly connected to the seat member and a torso strap having a lower end fixed to the retractor and a pair of upper ends connectable to a helmet via a latch assembly connected to the helmet. The helmet is adjustabty connected to the chassis and has a rigid shell shaped to extend about at least a portion the head of the child.

1 . A restraint apparatus for a child, comprising:
 a seat connectable to a vehicle and having a seat portion and a back portion; and   a substantially U-shaped guard having a first end and a second end pivotally connected to the back portion of the seat so as to be movable between an up position and a down position, in the down position the guard extending at an angle so as to be oriented substantially perpendicularly to a back of a front seat of the vehicle upon the front seat rotating backwards when the seat is connected to a rear seat of the vehicle to prevent the front seat from collapsing onto the child.   
   
   
       2 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guard has a longitudinal groove extending from a leading end toward the first end and the second end along an exterior thereof for receiving a portion of a guard of an adjacently positioned restraint apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guard has a front end and wherein the front end of the guard has a pair of side scoops to facilitate positioning of the guard between front seats of the vehicle when the chassis is secured in the center of a rear seat of the vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guard has a latch mechanism for locking the guard in the up position and the down position, wherein the latch mechanism comprises:
 a hub connected to the seat;   a spring-loaded pin mateable with the hub to lock the guard in the up position and the down position, the spring-loaded pin being substantially vertically oriented when the guard is in the down position to minimize inertial effects on the spring-loaded pin; and   a release handle connected to the spring-loaded pin for disengaging the spring-loaded pin from the hub.   
   
   
       5 . A restraint apparatus for a child, comprising:
 a base connectable to a vehicle, the base having a chassis with a back portion and a seat portion;   a substantially U-shaped guard having a first end and a second end pivotally connected to the chassis so as to be movable between an up position and a down position, in the down position the guard forming a frontal and lateral barrier around the child;   a seat member detachably connected to the seat portion of the chassis;   a harness assembly comprising:
 a retractor assembly connected to the seat member; and 
 a torso strap having a lower end and a pair of upper ends, the lower end of the torso strap fixed to the retractor assembly and positionable between the legs of the child; 
   a helmet connected to the chassis, the helmet having a rigid shell shaped to extend about at least a portion the head of the child; and   a latch assembly for releasably receiving the upper ends of the torso strap, the latch assembly connected to the helmet.   
   
   
       6 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the chassis has an upper end extending above the helmet so as to function as a roll bar to provide protection in the event the vehicle rolls over. 
   
   
       7 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the upper end of the chassis is oriented substantially vertically when the base is connected to the vehicle. 
   
   
       8 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a pair of latch mechanisms connected to the chassis and having a portion extendible therefrom, the latch mechanisms connectable to a bar of the seat of the vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The restraint apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the chassis may be connected to the vehicle with a seat belt having a webbing and wherein the restraint apparatus further comprises a web tightening assembly connected to the chassis for tightening the webbing of the vehicle.