Car seat with energy managing frame

A car seat comprising:

• a seat shell configured for supporting a child thereon;
• a base supporting the seat shell;
• and
• a support frame attached at least partially to at least one of the seat shell and the base and configured to manage energy during a crash event, the support frame comprising:
• a first frame portion comprising a first support comprising a first end;
• and
• a second frame portion attached to the first frame portion, the second frame portion comprising a first support comprising a second end;
• wherein the second end of the first support of the second frame portion is disposed within the first end of the first support of the first frame portion,
• wherein a stiffness of the first support of the second frame portion is different than a stiffness of the first support of the first frame portion, and
• wherein the car seat is a convertible car seat configured for installing in a vehicle and securing to a vehicle seat in a forward-facing mode or a rear-facing mode, wherein the support frame is configured to maintain its original shape during a crash event when the car seat is installed in the forward-facing mode, and wherein a portion of the second frame portion of the support frame is configured to controllably deform from its original shape to a deformed shape during a crash event when the car seat is installed in the rear-facing mode.

A car seat comprising:

• a seat shell configured for supporting a child thereon and comprising a seat back and a seat bottom;
• a base supporting the seat shell;
• and
• a support frame attached at least partially to at least one of the seat shell and the base and configured to manage energy during a crash event, the support frame comprising:
• a first frame portion comprising a first side support tube and a second side support tube spaced apart from one another and extending along the seat back of the seat shell, each of the first side support tube and the second side support tube of the first frame portion comprising a first end;
• and
• a second frame portion attached to the first frame portion, the second frame portion comprising a first side support tube and a second side support tube spaced apart from one another and extending along the seat bottom of the seat shell, each of the first side support tube and the second side support tube of the second frame portion comprising a second end;
• wherein the second end of the first side support tube of the second frame portion is positioned within the first end of the first side support tube of the first frame portion;
• wherein the second end of the second side support tube of the second frame portion is positioned within the first end of the second side support tube of the first frame portion;
• and
• wherein a stiffness of each of the first side support and the second side support of the second frame portion is different than a stiffness of each of the first side support and the second side support of the first frame portion.