Load limiting (energy management) child restraint 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.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A child restraint seat comprising:
 a base adapted to be secured within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle having a forward direction and a rearward direction;   a seat carriage adapted to support and restrain a child, the seat carriage being movably coupled with the base; and   an energy absorbing element mechanically coupled to the base and the seat carriage such that the energy absorbing element opposes motion of the seat carriage relative to the base;   a plurality of linkages, each linkage having a first end and the second end;   wherein the first ends of the plurality of linkages are pivotably connected to the seat carriage and the second ends of the plurality of linkages are pivotably connected to the base such that motion of the seat carriage relative to the base causes the plurality of linkages to rotate such that the seat carriage simultaneously translates forward relative to the base and rotates about a horizontal axis extending laterally with respect to the forward and rearward directions of the vehicle during a sudden decrease in forward velocity of the vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The child restraint seat of  claim 10 , wherein the seat carriage includes a releasably attached child carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The child restraint seat of  claim 10 , wherein the seat carriage is oriented such that the child faces rearward when the restraint seat is installed in the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The child restraint seat of  claim 10 , wherein the seat carriage is oriented such that the child faces forward when the restraint seat is installed in the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A child restraint seat comprising:
 a base adapted to be secured within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle having a forward direction and a rearward direction;   a seat carriage adapted to support and restrain a child carrier, the seat carriage being movably coupled with the base component; and   an energy absorbing element mechanically coupled to each of the seat carriage and the base;   a plurality of linkages, each linkage having a first end and the second end;   wherein the first ends of the plurality of linkages are pivotably connected to the seat carriage and the second ends of the plurality of linkages are pivotably connected to the base such that motion of the seat carriage relative to the base causes the plurality of linkages to rotate and wherein movement of the seat carriage relative to the base is opposed by the energy absorbing element;   
     
     
         23 . The child restraint seat of  claim 22 , wherein the energy absorbing element is a torsion bar. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled)