AU2011213780C1 - Means for extending vehicle child restraints - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to an extension portion for extending more than one external dimension of a child 5 safety seat and thereby increasing the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded and/or limiting the extent of potential occupant excursion. A child safety seat assembly comprising an extension portion is also disclosed. Figure 1

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant/s: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd Actual Inventors: Mike Lumley Wieslaw Maciejczyk Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, GPO Box 2752, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: MEANS FOR EXTENDING VEHICLE CHILD RESTRAINTS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

TITLE MEANS FOR EXTENDING VEHICLE CHILD RESTRAINTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to means for improving the safety of an existing child safety seat. PRIORITY [0002] This patent application claims priority from: Australian Provisional Patent Application 2010903724, titled "MEANS FOR EXTENDING VEHICLE CHILD RESTRAINTS", and filed on 19 August 2010. [0003] The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Child safety seats generally comprise a form giving shell comprising a seat portion, and, optionally, a backrest portion, and may be of the booster seat variety, or the safety seat may be secured with respect to the vehicle by the seat belts and have an independent harness which secures the infant with respect to the safety seat. [0005] Some existing safety seats are provided with side wings as a means of providing, in particular but not solely, side impact protection for the child. In side impacts, the infant is moved sideways and it is desirable for the infant head and other vulnerable parts of the body to impact against the cushioned side wings. This is the case particularly in the head area. [0006] However, impacts can result in a combination of forward and sideways movement of the infant within the seat, and they can cause encroachment of vehicle structure into the cabin as well as debris to be caused to fly about the vehicle cabin. Moreover, a seat must provide protection for the child as they grow. [0007] In some instances then, it has been found that existing seat side wings do not provide an adequate level of protection where: 1. the seat is used with infants at the taller end of the permissible height range for the seat; 2. there are objects flying about in the vehicle as a result of an accident; and/or 3. there is a combination of forward and sideways movement of the infant within the seat as a result of an accident. [0008] It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a means for ameliorating the above described difficulties, or which at the least provides a useful alternative to known child safety seats and safety accessories therefor. [0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [00010] In one aspect, the invention may be said to reside in an extension portion for extending more than one external dimension of a child safety seat and thereby increasing the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded and/or limiting the extent of potential occupant excursion. [00011] Potential occupant excursion is the extent to which a portion of the occupant can travel beyond the extent of protection of the seat in the event of a vehicle accident. This is especially critical where the head of the occupant is concerned. [00012] In one form, the extension portion is securable to the child safety seat. [00013] In one form, the extension portion is adapted to be retrofitted to the child safety seat. [00014] In one form, the extension portion is removably securable to the child safety seat. [00015] In one form, the extension portion comprises an impact force dissipating portion. [00016] In one form, the or each impact force dissipating portion is made of a resilient material. [00017] In one form, the or each impact force dissipating portion comprises walls defining an enclosed chamber, the walls having sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact. [00018] In one form, the or each impact force dissipating portion contains a volume of fluid that is discharged at a metered rate when exposed to an external impact force.

[00019] In one form, the impact force dissipating portion contains air, and comprises an air flow opening in a wall adapted to allow air flow communication between the impact force dissipating portion and surrounding ambient air. [00020] In one form, the opening includes a valve for restricting the rate of flow of air from the chamber in response to a deforming impact against the extension portion. [00021] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a child safety seat and an extension portion secured to the seat and extending more than one external dimension thereof, thereby increasing the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded. [00022] In one form, the child safety seat includes a seat, a backrest portion including a pair of side wings integrally formed on the backrest, and a pair of extension portions each secured with respect to a side wing, each extension portion extending forward from its respective side wing to improve the side impact protection for the safety seat. [00023] In one form, the extension portions extend upwards from the side wings of the safety seat. [00024] In one form, the extension portions extend around the outside of the side wings of the safety seat. [00025] In one form, the extension portions extend inside of side wings of the safety seat. [00026] In one form, the side wing extension portions are connected by a bridging portion. [00027] In one form, the bridging portion comprises a portion that extends upward from the backrest portion of the child safety seat. [00028] In one form, the bridging portion comprises a portion that overlays a front face of the back portion of the seat. [00029] In one form, the bridging portion comprises a portion that overlays a back face of the back portion of the seat. [00030] In one form, the bridging portion comprises an impact force dissipating portion.

[00031] In one form, the child safety seat includes a seat, a backrest portion and a headrest including a pair of side wings integrally formed on the headrest, and a pair of extension portions, one each secured with respect to a headrest side wing, each extension portion extending forward from its respective headrest side wing. [00032] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in an extension portion for extending an external dimension of a child safety seat to provide a barrier region, the extension portion being operable to provide impact resistance against side impacts to the child safety seat. [00033] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a child safety seat and an extension portion for extending an external dimension of a child safety seat to provide a barrier region, the extension portion being operable to provide impact resistance against side impacts to the child safety seat. [00034] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a shield for securement to a child safety seat so as to increase the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded, and which is adapted to provide resistance against impacts. [00035] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a seat, a backrest portion including a pair of side wings, and a pair of extension portions each secured with respect to a side wing, each extension portion extending more than one external dimension of its respective side wing and thereby increasing the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded. [00036] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in an extension portion for a child safety seat, wherein the child safety seat comprises an edge defining lip, and the extension portion comprises a recess adapted to nest with the edge defining lip, and an attachment means for securing the extension portion to the edge defining lip, and wherein in use, the extension portion projects from the lip to extend the child safety seat and thereby increase the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded and/or limit the extent of potential occupant excursion, and wherein the extension portion further extends around an outer side of the lip. [00037] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising a child safety seat comprising an edge defining lip, and an extension portion comprising a recess nesting the edge defining lip, and an attachment means securing the extension portion to the edge defining lip, and wherein the extension portion projects from the lip to extend the child safety seat and thereby increase the extent to which a seat occupant is shielded and/or limit the extent of potential occupant excursion and wherein the extension portion further extends around an outer side of the lip. [00038] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a side wing extension portion to improve the extent to which a seat occupant is protected by providing a forward extension of an existing child safety seat wing, wherein the child safety seat wing comprises an edge defining lip, and wherein the side wing extension portion comprises: a body comprising: a recess adapted to nest the edge defining lip, a generally planar outwardly facing portion; and an attachment means comprising an extension portion that extends around the outside of the edge defining lip to thereby locate the side wing extension portion with respect to the child safety seat side wing and provide a means of fixing the side wing extension portion to the child safety seat wing so that the side wing extension portion is fixed to and extends forward of the child safety seat wing; and an inwardly or occupant facing impact force dissipating portion secured with respect to the outwardly facing portion. [00039] In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a child safety seat assembly comprising; a child safety seat comprising a side wing comprising an edge defining lip, and a side wing extension portion comprising: a body comprising: a recess nesting the edge defining lip a generally planar outwardly facing portion, and an attachment means comprising an extension portion that extends around the outside of the edge defining lip to thereby locate the side wing extension portion with respect to the child safety seat side wing and provide a means of fixing the side wing extension portion to the child safety seat wing so that the side wing extension portion is fixed to and extends forward of the child safety seat wing; and an inwardly or occupant facing impact force dissipating portion secured with respect to the outwardly facing portion. [00040] For the purposes of this specification, a force dissipater functions to maximise the time interval between the moment the impacting object strikes the force dissipater to apply the external impact force and the moment that resulting force reaches zero. As energy is the product of force and distance, the use of the terms 'force dissipater' and 'energy absorber' are considered to be broadly interchangeable. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00041] For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to one or more exemplary embodiments which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a first exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the safety seat assembly of Figures 1 and 2, taken from a front perspective; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the safety seat assembly of Figures 1 and 2, taken from a rear perspective; Figure 5 is a front view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a rear view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 1 through 5; Figure 7 is a side view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 1 through 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the side wing extension portions from the child safety seat assembly of Figures 1 through 7 in isolation, viewed from the inner side of this; Figure 9 is perspective view of the side wing extension portion of Figure 8 in isolation, viewed from the outer side of this; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through the child safety seat assembly of Figures 1 through 7, this being taken along line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 11 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions; Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a third exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with an extension unit which extends multiple seat dimensions; Figure 14 is a rear perspective view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with an extension unit which extends multiple seat dimensions; Figure 16 is a rear perspective view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figure 15; Figure 17 is a front view of the extension module from the child safety seat assembly of Figures 15 and 16, in isolation; Figure 18 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a fifth exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with an extension unit which extends multiple seat dimensions; Figure 19 is a front view of the extension unit from the child safety seat assembly of Figure 18, in isolation; Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view through the extension unit of Figure 19, this being taken along line A-A of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a sixth exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions; Figure 22 is a rear perspective view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figure 21; Figure 23 is an exploded view of the safety seat assembly of Figures 21 and 22, taken from a front perspective; Figure 24 is an exploded view of the safety seat assembly of Figures 21 and 22, taken from a rear perspective; Figure 25 is a front view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 21 and 22; Figure 26 is a partial rear view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 21 and 22; Figure 27 is a side view of the child safety seat assembly illustrated in Figures 21 and 22; Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view through the child safety seat assembly of Figures 21 and 22, this being taken along line A-A of Figure 27; Figure 29 is a perspective view of a shell portion of one of the pair of side wing extension portions from the child safety seat assembly of Figures 21 and 22, this being viewed from an inner side; Figure 30 is a perspective view of the shell portion of Figure 29, this being viewed from the outer side; Figure 3 1a is a perspective view of a front perspective view of a child safety seat assembly according to a further exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions; and Figure 3 lb is a cross-sectional view through one side wing extension portion as shown in Figure 3 1a. [00042] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [00043] Figure 1 illustrates a child safety seat assembly 1 that includes a child safety seat 2 having a hard plastic shell that is shaped to provide a seat portion 4, a backrest portion 6 and a pair of side wings 8 that extend from the backrest portion 6 so as to, in use, extend forward on either side of a seat occupant. [00044] Various fittings (not illustrated) are attached to the hard plastic shell, such as a seat occupant restraint harness and adjusting strap, securing latches, padding and a dress cover. Some side torso protection is provided by the combination of the hard shell and the overlying padding. Limited head protection is provided by way of the side wings 8 on the upper part of the backrest of the shell. [00045] Such child safety seats are typically secured to the vehicle seat by the vehicle seat belts and either of a tether strap or a specialized latching device, such as an Isofix latch, which is carried on the seating product and which interfaces with a complementary device carried by the vehicle seat. [00046] The child safety seat assembly 1 further includes an extension portion, which is provided for extending an external dimension of the child safety seat 2 and thereby increase the extent to which the child safety seat 2 shields a seat occupant. [00047] In Figure 1, there are two extension portions, these taking the form of a pair of side wing extension portions 10, each of which is removably secured to a side (i.e. around the outside) of a side wing 8 of the child safety seat 2 so as to extend forward and upward from the side wings 8 of the safety seat 2 and improve the extent of side impact protection provided by the safety seat 2 for an occupant. [00048] That is to say, the side wing extension portions 10 do not merely extend the side wings 8 of the child safety seat 2 forwardly and upwardly, they also provide additional protection around the outside of the side wings 8 of the child safety seat 2. [00049] This may be contrasted to the disclosure of Australian Patent Application AU2008203522, the contents of which should be considered incorporated herein by way of reference. [00050] The side wing extension portions 10 may be blow-molded so as to have walls formed of a blow-moldable material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), low or high density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE) and polystyrene (PS) and a thickness of between about 0.18 centimeters and about 0.23 centimeters, although in practice their construction need not be so limited. [00051] In this exemplary embodiment, the side wing extension portions 10 are formed by extrusion blow molding. Blow molding begins with melting down the polymer and forming into a parison or preform. The parison is clamped into a mold shaped to form the outer dimensions of the side wing extension portions 10 and air is pumped into the mold. Air pressure pushes the plastic of the parison outwardly and into conformation with the inner walls of the mold. Once the plastic has cooled and hardened, the mold opens up and the part is ejected. Suitably positioned mold plugs provide attachment holes 12 and the like.

[00052] As can be seen in Figures 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10, the side wing extension portions 10 also include specially shaped recesses 14, within which an edge defining lip 9 of the child safety seat 2 can be nested and the side wing extension portions 10 positioned relative to the child safety seat 2. [00053] Each molded side wing extension portion 10 is preferably hollow, as shown in Figure 10, and has sufficient rigidity to maintain its nominal shape except when subjected to more than a predetermined minimum amount of impact. [00054] Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 10, where it can be seen how each side wing extension portion 10 is preferably attached to the shell of the child safety seat 2 by means of three large screws "S" applied via the attachment holes 12. Attachment means need not be so limited, and may be by any suitable means, such as by fixed attachment means such as adhesives or one-way bolts, or by removable attachment means such as the screws "S", clips, slide mounts or the like. [00055] The construction of the extension portions of the present invention then is similar to that of the side impact protection elements discussed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0019554A1, the contents of which should be considered incorporated herein by way of reference. [00056] If a side wing extension portion 10 is struck, controlled venting of the extant air within this upon impact absorbs impact energy and prevents rupture, so each element is impact force dissipating; such venting may be provided by vents, not shown, or by allowing leakage around the attachment holes 12. [00057] Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 20 according to a second exemplary embodiment, the assembly 20 comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, this being fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions 30 which are the same as portions 10 discussed above in nearly every respect, but which differ in as much as assembly 20 is shaped to cover a larger area of the seat's sides. [00058] Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 40 according to a third exemplary embodiment, the assembly 40 comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, this being fitted with an extension unit 50 which extends multiple seat dimensions. [00059] This extension unit 50 is comprised of a pair of side wing extension portions 52 bridged by a backrest extension portion 54 which sits atop and extends upwards from the backrest portion 6 of the child safety seat 2. The side wing extension portions 52 are the same as portions 30 discussed above in nearly every respect, but differ in as much as backrest extension portion 54 is integrally formed with these side wing extension portions 52 so as to define between them an enclosed chamber that is adapted to contain air, and includes an air flow opening in the walls (such as at attachment holes 12) adapted to allow air flow communication between the chamber and surrounding ambient air. In this way, extension unit 50 offers all of the advantages of side wing extension portions 10, 20 or 30, along with providing additional protection for the occupant around the top of both the child safety seat 2 and the occupant's head. [00060] In another exemplary embodiment, each of the extension portions (i.e. backrest 54 extension portion and side wing extension portions 52) defines respective enclosed chambers (i.e. separate cells). [00061] Referring now to Figures 15 through 17, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 60 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, the assembly 60 comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, this being fitted with an extension unit 70 which extends multiple seat dimensions. This extension unit 70 is the same as extension unit 50 discussed above in nearly every respect, but differs in as much as side wing extension portions 72 are shaped to cover an even larger area of the seat's sides. [00062] Referring now to Figures 18 through 20, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 80 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment, the assembly 80 comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, this being fitted with an extension unit 90 which extends multiple seat dimensions. [00063] Extension unit 90 is the same as extension unit 70 discussed above in nearly every respect, but differs in as much as this includes a back portion 96 which overlays a front face of the back portion of the seat so as to extend between the side wing extension portions 92 and the backrest extension portion 94. This back portion 96 provides additional strength and stiffness to the extension unit 90 when compared with extension unit 70. [00064] In another exemplary embodiment, the back portion 96 of extension unit 90 may define an impact absorbing, closed chamber of the type described above. [00065] Whilst all of the extension portions above are of a similar construction, in an alternative, extension portions of foamed material may be used, or the extension portions may be filled with a supplemental impact material such as PE or PS beads or fibers, gels, or liquids. In addition, a hollow side element pressurized with a gas may also be used.

[00066] Accordingly, and referring now to Figures 21 through 30, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 100 according to a sixth exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions 110. [00067] Each of side wing extension portions 110 is removably secured to a side wing 8 of the child safety seat 2 so as to extend forward and upward from the side wings 8 of the safety seat 2 and improve the extent of side impact protection provided by the safety seat 2 for an occupant. [00068] Each of side wing extension portions 110 is comprised of two parts, a facing portion 120 and a resilient portion 130. The resilient portion 130 is a shaped piece of foamed or expanded plastic material such as expanded polystyrene, and this is secured to the facing portion 120 by any suitable method, including by way of an adhesive. [00069] The facing portion 120 is made of a molded plastic material and defines a shell which is of sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and which is deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact. The facing portion 120 is so called because it is the outwardly facing portion of the two portions that comprise each of the side wing extension portions 110. The facing portion 120 is preferably attached to the shell of the child safety seat 2 by means of large screws "S" applied via the attachment holes 12 and clip portions 132 integrally formed to the facing portion, and which clip to the edge defining lip 9 of the seat 2 shell. Attachment may be by any suitable means however, and may be by fixed attachment means such as adhesives or one-way bolts, or by removable attachment means such as the screws "S", clips, slide mounts or the like. [00070] In a further illustrative embodiment, the positioning of the facing portion 120 and the resilient portion may be changed so that the facing portion faces inwardly toward the occupant of the child safety seat, and the resilient portion faces outwardly to the side. [00071] Referring now to Figure 31, where there is illustrated a child safety seat assembly 200 according to a seventh exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprising a child safety seat 2 as discussed above, fitted with a pair of side wing extension portions 210. [00072] Each of the side wing extension portions 210 includes a specially shaped recess 214, within which an edge defining lip 9 of the child safety seat 2 can be nested and the side wing extension portions 210 positioned relative to the child safety seat 2. [00073] Each of the side wing extension portions 210 extend forward and upward from, and inside of and outside of the side wings 8 of the safety seat 2. In this embodiment, the side wing extension portions 210 are made of an energy absorbing material such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), and they are sized so as to cover more of the inside of the side wing 8 than they do the outside, so as to provide energy absorbing containment for a head of an occupant, where the head will likely be rebounded off of or between the side wing extension portions 210 in the event of a side impact. The side wing extension portions 210 provide protection and impact energy absorption then where the occupant's head could otherwise be thrown against the door of the car or the car's structure may intrude and make direct contact with the occupant's head. [00074] While the invention relates broadly to juvenile seating products, it is further described and illustrated in this application with reference to a child safety seat of the type generally described above, it being understood that the invention is not so limited. [00075] It will be understood that the term "comprise" and any of its derivatives (e.g. comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied. [00076] Any and all publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of each claim of this application. [00077] Although the disclosure has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims (16)

1. A side wing extension portion to improve the extent to which a seat occupant is protected by providing a forward extension of an existing child safety seat wing, wherein the child safety seat wing comprises an edge defining lip, and wherein the side wing extension portion comprises: a body comprising: a recess adapted to nest the edge defining lip, a generally planar outwardly facing portion; and an attachment means comprising an extension portion that extends around the outside of the edge defining lip to thereby locate the side wing extension portion with respect to the child safety seat side wing and provide a means of fixing the side wing extension portion to the child safety seat wing so that the side wing extension portion is fixed to and extends forward of the child safety seat wing; and an inwardly or occupant facing impact force dissipating portion secured with respect to the outwardly facing portion.

2. The side wing extension portion of claim 1, wherein the impact dissipating portion provides a lining for the outwardly facing portion, and the outwardly facing portion provides a shell for the impact dissipating portion.

3. The side wing extension portion as in either of the preceding claims, wherein the extension portion is removably securable to the child safety seat.

4. The side wing extension portion as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension portion is adapted to be retrofitted to the child safety seat.

5. The side wing extension portion as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the impact force dissipating portion of the side wing extension portion extends inside of the side wing.

6. The side wing extension portion as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outwardly facing portion is made of a moulded plastic material.

7. The side wing extension portion of claim 6, wherein the extension portion of the attachment means comprises at least one clip integrally moulded therewith, for clipping the side wing extension portion to the edge defining lip of the child safety seat.

8. The side wing extension portion as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the impact dissipating portion comprises a shaped piece of foamed or expanded plastic material such as expanded polystyrene.

9. The side wing extension portion as in any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the impact force dissipating portion comprises walls defining an enclosed chamber, the walls having sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact.

10. The side wing extension portion of claim 9, wherein the impact force dissipating portion contains a volume of fluid that is discharged at a metered rate when exposed to an external impact force.

11. The side wing extension portion as in either one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the impact force dissipating portion contains air, and comprises an air flow opening in a wall adapted to allow air flow communication between the impact force dissipating portion and surrounding ambient air.

12. The side wing extension portion of claim 9, wherein the opening includes a valve for restricting the rate of flow of air from the chamber in response to a deforming impact against the impact force dissipating portion.

13. A child safety seat assembly comprising; a child safety seat comprising a side wing comprising an edge defining lip, and a side wing extension portion comprising: a body comprising: a recess nesting the edge defining lip a generally planar outwardly facing portion, and an attachment means comprising an extension portion that extends around the outside of the edge defining lip to thereby locate the side wing extension portion with respect to the child safety seat side wing and provide a means of fixing the side wing extension portion to the child safety seat wing so that the side wing extension portion is fixed to and extends forward of the child safety seat wing; and an inwardly or occupant facing impact force dissipating portion secured with respect to the outwardly facing portion.

14. The child safety seat of claim 13, wherein the child safety seat includes a seat portion, a backrest portion including a pair of side wings extending from the backrest portion, and a pair of side wing extension portions, one each secured with respect to one of the side wings.

15. The child safety seat of claim 13, wherein the child safety seat includes a seat portion, a backrest portion and a headrest including a pair of side wings extending from the headrest, and a pair of the side wing extension portions, one each secured with respect to one of the headrest side wings.

16. The child safety seat as in any one of claims 13 through 15, wherein the impact dissipating portions extend inside of side wings of the safety seat.