Reclining mechanism and latch for child safety seat

Abstract

A reclining mechanism for a child safety seat used in motor vehicles that enables the safety seat to be used in both a forward and rearward facing position. The reclining mechanism comprises a seat (11), a base member (15) to which the seat (11) is attached, a connection (19, 22) between the seat (11) and base member (15) that allows movement of the seat (11) with respect to the base (15). The movement comprises a first range of reclining movement where the seat (11) is able to move between an upright position and a first recline position, and a second range of reclining movement where the seat further moves between the first reclined position and a second reclined position. A stop (33) prevents the seat (11) moving from the first reclined position into the second range of reclining movement. The stop (33) requires manual operation or manipulation of the seat (11) to allow release of the seat (11) into the second range of reclining movement. This allows a minor amount of reclining of the seat (11) while restraining the seat (11) from fully reclining which may be dangerous when in the forward facing position. The fully reclined position is only when the child safety seat is used in a rearward facing position.