Child restraint assembly for child vehicle seat

Abstract

A child restraint assembly for a child vehicle seat includes a buckle assembly including a buckle and a pair of latches, a harness coupled to the buckle assembly, and a harness adjuster to adjust the harness. The buckle includes a buckle actuator slidable between a first position and a second position relative to a front surface of the buckle to unlock the buckle assembly. The harness adjuster includes a housing and a harness adjuster actuator movable between a first position and a second position relative to a front surface of the housing to unlock the harness adjuster. Movement of the buckle actuator from the first position to the second position is in the same direction as movement of the harness adjuster actuator from the first position to the second position. The buckle can include a grip surface of sufficient thickness to enable a user to brace a finger against the buckle grip surface when actuating the buckle actuator. Likewise, the housing can include a grip surface of sufficient thickness to enable a user to brace a finger against the housing grip surface when actuating the harness adjuster actuator. The child restraint assembly also can include a chest clip coupled to the harness. The chest clip can include a male member and a female member releasably coupled to the male member, the male member having a pair of opposing grip surfaces of sufficient thickness to enable a user to grip the male member when decoupling the male member and the female member.

1 . A harness adjuster of a child restraint assembly, comprising:
 a housing; and   a harness adjuster actuator accessible from a front surface of the housing and movable between a first position and a second position along a path of movement substantially parallel to the front surface to enable adjustment of a harness of the child restraint assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The harness adjuster as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a grip surface extending substantially perpendicular to the path of movement and of sufficient thickness to enable a user to brace a finger against the housing grip surface when actuating the harness adjuster actuator. 
   
   
       3 . The harness adjuster according to  claim 2 , wherein the grip surface is a lower surface of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The harness adjuster as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the housing defines a recessed area, and the harness adjuster actuator is mounted within the recessed area to lie below the front surface of the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The harness adjuster as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the harness adjuster actuator is entirely disposed within the recessed area. 
   
   
       6 . The harness adjuster according to  claim 4 , wherein the recessed area includes an aperture through which the harness adjuster actuator extends. 
   
   
       7 . The harness adjuster according to  claim 1 , wherein the harness adjuster actuator includes a directional icon to indicate the direction of movement of the harness adjuster actuator from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       8 . The harness adjuster according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has rounded edges. 
   
   
       9 . The harness adjuster as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the harness adjuster actuator comprises a front exposed surface that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the front surface of the housing.