TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a tamper guard for a child restraint system. In particular, the invention is concerned with the child tamper proofing of a restraint system found on a child safety seat.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] Child safety seats are used by parents worldwide to protect their children from injury or death during adverse vehicular incidents. These child safety seats are also generally a legal requirement in many countries for the transportation of children in vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft.

[0004] The primary components of the child safety seat are a seating portion for the comfortable transportation of a child, and a restraint system to ensure that the child is safely secured to the seating portion during transportation and in adverse vehicular incidents. The type of the seating portion is dependent upon the age and size of the child; however, the types are typically either a carrycot or a bucket seat. The restraint system is generally a five-point harness, in which five straps anchored to the seating portion meet at and connect to a centralised buckle. The combination of the five straps and the centralised buckle provide a secure means of safely retaining the child' s body within the seating portion, thereby protecting the child from incurring serious injury during adverse vehicular incidents.

[ 0005 ] To allow for the release of the straps, the centralised buckle is typically equipped with a quick release mechanism. The quick release mechanism is typically a large visible push button located on the centralised buckle, which when depressed releases the retained straps allowing the child to exit the seating portion. However, inquisitive children are likely to tamper with the quick release mechanism, which may lead to a pre-mature exit from the child safety seat. This unintended and unsupervised exit may endanger the child's life during transportation in a moving vehicle .

[ 0006 ] A typical solution for minimising the child's opportunity to successfully operate the quick release mechanism is the use of components requiring a specific amount of force, greater than what a typical child below the age of 4 can muster, to actuate. However, inquisitive children may be able to determine methods of bypassing this solution, such as hitting the button with a heavy solid object or leveraging the combined force of both hands to depress the button. In addition, the use of such solutions may impede removal of the child from the safety seat during emergencies.

[ 0007 ] Another solution involves the installation of a third- party item, such as a cover for the quick release mechanism. The cover typically encases most of the quick release mechanism, so that the child is unable to visually identify the button and is physically denied access to the button. An example of the cover is the Merritt™ Buckle Guard. This buckle guard consists of a plastic cover that encapsulates most of the buckle release mechanism to obscure it from visual identification and acts as a hard barrier to operation. However, the use of the cover provides the dangerous disadvantage of obscuring the quick release mechanism. By obscuring the quick release mechanism, in the event of an adverse vehicle incident, emergency responders are required to spend time to determine how to actuate the quick release mechanism with the obscuring cover. This may mean the difference between life and death in a critical situation. Additionally, the cover may be damaged during adverse vehicular incidents, leading to the requirement of tools to remove or bypass the cover by emergency responders. For these reasons, the use of a cover for the quick release mechanism is often prohibited in many countries.

[0008] The current invention was conceived with these shortcomings in mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tamper guard for a child safety seat, said tamper guard comprising:

a hollow tubular upper portion; and

a lower portion configured to operatively secure the upper portion to a buckle of the child safety seat, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion cooperate to form a continuous opening from a distal opening of the tubular upper portion, the continuous opening configured to display and allow access to a quick release mechanism located at a front face of the buckle for an adult whilst impeding access to the quick release mechanism for a child seated in the child safety seat.

[0010] In an embodiment, the upper portion is configured as a hollow prism or cylinder.

[0011] In an embodiment, the lower portion comprises an adhesive material, such as an adhesive or an adhesive tape. [0012] In an embodiment, the upper portion is integral to the lower portion.

[0013] In an embodiment, the lower portion comprises a quadrilateral top face and an opening of substantially similar cross-section to the hollow prism or cylinder, a pair of opposing members of similar cross-section to the hollow prism or cylinder, and a retainer located below the quadrilateral top face.

[0014] In an embodiment, the lower portion is configured to receive a buckle of the child safety seat within a space defined by the quadrilateral top face and the retainer, and the retainer is configured to retain the buckle within the space.

[0015] In an embodiment, the upper portion is configured as a hollow prism having the same cross-sectional shape as the top face of the lower portion.

[0016] In an embodiment, the upper portion is of a height greater than 40 mm.

[0017] In an embodiment, the upper portion is of a height greater than 60 mm.

[0018] In an embodiment, the retainer is a pair of opposing members extending from edges of the top face and a pair of internal flanges located at distal ends of the pair of opposing members .

[0019] In an embodiment, the retainer is a pair of opposing members extending from edges of the top face and connecting to edges of a bottom face having an opening to display a back face of the buckle. [0020] In an embodiment, the upper portion is manufactured from a resiliently flexible material.

[0021] In one embodiment, the lower portion is manufactured from a resiliently flexible material.

[0022] In an embodiment, the resiliently flexible material has an elastic modulus value that disallows a child requiring a safety seat to physically deform the material using their appendages, thereby limiting ingress of said appendages and access to the quick release mechanism.

[0023] In an embodiment, the resiliently flexible material is selected from a group consisting of rubber, foam, plastics and metal .

[0024] In an embodiment, the upper portion is configured so that the continuous opening to the buckle is at an angle generally perpendicular to the quick release mechanism.

[0025] In an embodiment, the angle of the continuous opening is away from a child secured in the child safety seat to impede the child accessing the quick release mechanism.

[0026] In an embodiment, the distal opening of the tubular upper portion includes a cover configured to partially cover the continuous opening to impede the child accessing the quick release mechanism.

[0027] In an embodiment, the distal opening of the continuous opening is bevelled to facilitate access to an adult's finger to the quick release mechanism whilst impeding a child secured in the child safety seat from accessing the quick release mechanism. [0028] In an embodiment, the cover is manufactured from a transparent or translucent material to facilitate display of the quick release mechanism. In a further embodiment, the cover is manufactured from an opaque material.

[0029] In an embodiment, the upper and/or lower portion is manufactured from a transparent or translucent material to facilitate display of the quick release mechanism. In another embodiment, the upper and/or lower portion is manufactured from an opaque material.

[0030] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a seat belt buckle for a child safety seat, said buckle comprising a tamper guard in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0031] In an embodiment, the tamper guard is integral to the buckle, i.e. manufactured as a unitary buckle incorporating such a tamper guard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child tamper guard;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the child tamper guard fastened to a restraint system of a child safety seat;

Figure 3 is a side view of the child tamper guard demonstrating access for an adult to a restraint release button of the restraint system; Figure 4 is a side view of the child tamper guarding demonstrating restricted access for a child to the restraint release button of the restraint system; and

Figures 5 A-F show different views of two types of commercial iterations of the child tamper guard generally described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention to the skilled addressee. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of the example embodiment or embodiments, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout.

[0033] With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a tamper guard 10 for a child safety seat. In general, the tamper guard 10 generally comprises a hollow tubular upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14 configured to operatively secure the upper portion 12 to a buckle of the child safety seat. The upper portion 12 and the lower portion 14 generally cooperate to form a continuous opening 18 from a distal opening 16 of the tubular upper portion 12, with the continuous opening 18 configured to display and allow access to a quick release mechanism 34 located at a front face of the buckle 32 for an adult 54 whilst impeding access to the quick release mechanism for a child 56 seated in the child safety seat.

[0034] In the embodiment exemplified in the accompanying drawings, the tamper guard 10 comprises an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14. The upper portion 12 is configured as a hollow prism or cylinder having a top distal opening. The lower portion 14 is a body comprising a quadrilateral top face having an opening of similar cross-section to a bottom opening of the upper portion 12. The lower portion 14 further comprises an integral retainer located below the quadrilateral top face. The upper portion 12 and the lower portion 14 are connected to and cooperate with each other to receive and retain a buckle within a space defined by the quadrilateral top face and the retainer. The retainer subsequently retains the buckle within the space. Additionally, the upper portion 12 and the lower portion 14 cooperate to form a continuous opening from the distal opening of the hollow prism or cylinder to the opening of the top face. The continuous opening is configured to display and allow access to a quick release mechanism located at a front face of the buckle.

[ 0035 ] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the continuous opening is preferably configured to fully display the quick release mechanism of the buckle to allow for the rapid recognition and actuation of the quick release mechanism by an adult, particularly in the event of an adverse vehicular incident such as by first responders or emergency responders. Additionally, the upper portion 12 is preferably configured to be of a height that disallows a finger or fingers of a child to reach and/or actuate the quick release mechanism of the buckle.

[ 0036 ] Fig 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the tamper guard 10. The upper portion 12 is shown as a cylinder 16 having a circular distal opening 18. The lower portion 14 is shown to comprise a square top face 20, having a pair of rectangular opposing member 22, 24 extending downwardly from the edges of the top face 20. The pair of opposing members 22, 24 are equipped with a pair of internal flanges 26, 28 that act as the retainer. A space 30 for receiving and retaining the buckle is defined by the inner wall of the square top face 20, the inner walls of the pair of rectangular opposing members 22, 24 and the internal walls of the pair of internal flanges 26, 28. Additionally, the upper portion 12 is integral to the lower portion 14 and is shown to be manufactured from the same block of material.

[ 0037 ] Figs 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the tamper guard 10 retaining the buckle 32, which has a quick release mechanism in the form of a push button 34. The buckle 32 is received in the space 30 defined by the lower portion 14, by outwardly pulling the pair of opposing members 22, 24 so that they elastically deform. The elastic deformation of the pair of opposing members 22, 24 moves the pair of internal flanges 26, 28 outwardly so that the lower portion 14 can fit over the buckle 32. Once the front face of the buckle 32, containing the push button 34, is flush against the internal wall of the square top face 20, the pair of opposing members 22, 24 can revert to their original positions. This causes the buckle 32 to be retained within the space 30 by a close fit between the internal walls of the square top face 20, the pair of opposing members 22, 24 and the pair of internal flanges 26, 28 which clutches the back of the buckle 32. Additionally, the lower portion 14 is arranged so that the pair of opposing members 22, 24 are paired with the side walls of the buckle 32 that are not connected to or are configured to connect with a crotch strap 36 or a buckle tongue 38, 40 that connects to a shoulder strap 42, 44 and a waste strap 46, 48.

[ 0038 ] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the retainer may be of another form that is suitable for securely retaining the buckle 32. In another preferred embodiment, the retainer is configured as a pair of opposing members extending from edges of the square top face 20 and connecting to edges of a bottom face of similar dimensions to the square top face 20. The bottom face is further configured to have a substantially rectangular opening to display a back face of the buckle, which typically contains safety information relating to the child safety seat. In this arrangement, the buckle 32 is received in the space defined by the inner wall of the square front face 20, the inner walls of the pair of opposing members, and the inner wall of the bottom face by sliding the buckle 32 through the openings not covered by the pair of opposing members. In a further embodiment, the retainer is configured as a pair of opposing members extending from edges of the square top face 20 which connected with a pair of longitudinally extending rods using snap fasteners.

[ 0039 ] To allow for the elastic deformation of the pair of opposing members 22, 24 the upper portion 14 is generally manufactured from a resiliently flexible material. However, to ensure that a child is physical unable to deform the material using their hands, the resiliently flexible material must have an elastic modulus value that may be overcome by the strength of an adult but not that of a child. Similarly, the lower portion 12 is also typically manufactured from a resiliently flexible material .

[ 0040 ] It is further demonstrated in Figs 3 and 4 that the upper portion 12 cooperates with the lower portion 14 so that it forms a continuous opening 50 from the distal end 18 of the cylinder 16 to a circular opening 52 located on the square top face 20. The continuous opening 50 is circular in size and has a diameter that enables a person to view the entirety of the push button 34.

[ 0041 ] Additionally, the continuous opening 18 provides access for a finger of an adult's hand 54 to actuate the push button 34. To ensure that the continuous opening 18 is of a sufficient height that a finger of a child's hand 56 is unable to reach and/or properly actuate the push button 34, the height of the upper portion 12 must be of a height that is greater than that of the length of the finger of a child's hand 56. The average length of a 4-year-old child is approximately 60 mm. As such, the height of the upper portion 12 may be greater than 60 mm, but the skilled addressee will appreciate that variations are possible and within the scope of the present invention.

[ 0042 ] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the upper portion 12 may be of any dimension if it forms a continuous opening 18 from the distal end of the hollow prism or cylinder to a similar opening located on the top face. In another preferred embodiment, the upper portion is configured as a hollow prism having the same cross-sectional shape as the top face of the lower portion. In this embodiment, the upper portion is configured as a rectangular prison having the same square cross- sectional shape as that of the square top face 20.

[ 0043 ] Other variations to the tamper guard 10 are also possible and within the scope of the present invention. For example, the upper portion 12 may be configured so that the continuous opening 18 to the buckle 32 is at an angle generally perpendicular to the quick release mechanism 34. In another embodiment, this angle of the continuous opening 18 may be in a direction away from a child secured in the child safety seat to impede the child accessing the quick release mechanism 34.

[ 0044 ] Similarly, in a further embodiment, the distal opening 18 of the tubular upper portion 12 may include a cover (not shown) configured to partially cover the continuous opening 18 to impede the child 56 accessing the quick release mechanism 34. The distal opening of the continuous opening 18 may also be bevelled to facilitate access by an adult's finger 54 to the quick release mechanism 34 whilst impeding a child 56 secured in the child safety seat from accessing the quick release mechanism 34.

[0045] In another embodiment, the cover may be manufactured from a transparent or translucent material. Similarly, it is to be appreciated that the upper and/or lower portion 12, 14 may be manufactured from a transparent or translucent material to facilitate visually locating the quick release mechanism 34. Alternatively, the cover and/or the upper and/or lower portion 12, 14 may be manufactured from an opaque material, depending on user requirements.

[0046] Referring to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown two versions of the tamper guard 10 described herein. Figures 5C to 5C show a tamper guard 10 suited to a buckle having a round push button 34, with Figures 5D to 5F show a version suited to a buckle having a squarer push button 34.

[0047] The skilled addressee will further appreciate that the present invention also includes a seat belt buckle for a child safety seat, said buckle comprising a tamper guard 10 as described herein, e.g. the tamper guard 10 may be integral to the buckle 32, i.e. manufactured as a unitary buckle incorporating such a tamper guard 10.

[0048] Applicant believes is particularly advantageous that the present invention provides for a tamper guard 10 that can prevent the child from easily actuating the push button 34 whilst providing unobstructed viewing and access to the push button 34. This ensures that the child being transported in the child safety seat is disallowed the opportunity to tamper with and easily exit from the child safety seat. Additionally, it allows for the rapid recognition and actuation of the quick release mechanism by adults, such as first responders or emergency responders in the event of an adverse vehicular incident.

[ 0049 ] Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. In the example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well- known technologies are not described in detail, as such will be readily understood by the skilled addressee.

[ 0050 ] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the claimed subject matter) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

[ 0051 ] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "beneath, " "below, " "lower, " "above, " "upper, " and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element (s) or feature (s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly .

[ 0052 ] It is to be appreciated that reference to "one example" or "an example" of the invention, or similar exemplary language (e.g., "such as") herein, is not made in an exclusive sense. Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter are described herein, textually and/or graphically, for carrying out the claimed subject matter.

[ 0053 ] Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention, whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. These examples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing the invention and are not intended to limit the overall scope of the invention in any way unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Variations (e.g. modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventor (s) expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor (s) intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein.