Child restraining seat assembly

Claim 1

An improved child''s restraining seat assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat provided therein, said assembly including seat means for placement on the vehicle seat to receive a child therein, restraint means for wrapping about the child and for being secured together to hold the child in the seat means, and anchor means for connecting with the vehicle, the improvement comprising the provision of: a separate structural member including a body plate having a width generally equal to that of the back of said seat means and means for connecting the anchor means and the restraint means thereto, said structural member being provided so that it transfers the restraining load of the restraint means to the anchor means without applying the load to the seat means; means for mounting strap ends of said restraint means to said structural member at spaced-apart locations thereon to maintain said restraint means properly provided about a child in said seat means even under loading thereof; and wherein said connecting means includes the provision of suitable openings in said plate and seat means through which the anchor means and the restraint means extend to be connected to the plate; the restraint means includes a plurality of straps with mating buckles thereon, and wherein the plate includes a number of slots formed therein, adjacent the edges thereof, said slots receiving the straps to mount them to the plate; and the straps include a crotch strap, and a continuous right and left combined shoulder and lap strap, and wherein the plate includes five slots, two upper slots adjacent the upper edge, a side slot adjacent each side edge and a lower slot centrally located adjacent the lower edge, said crotch strap extending through the lower slot, to be mounted to the plate, said combined shoulder and lap straps extending through respective side slots to be mounted to the plate, passing through respective upper slots, and being adjustably secured together, said combined shoulder and lap strap having intermediate buckles releasably secured to a buckle on the crotch straP to wrap about the child and restrain him.