Multi-functional energy absorber

A child safety seat comprising:

• a base configured to be operably coupled to a vehicle seat;
• a seat shell configured to receive and secure a child therein, the seat shell coupled to the base such that the seat shell is alternately movable between a plurality of positions relative to the base;
• a first and a second energy absorber disposed on opposite sides of the child safety seat between the base and the seat shell, each the first and the second energy absorber configured to deform in response to an impact and thereby absorb impact energy, and each the first and second energy absorber including a respective locking portion;
• a locking assembly configured to:
• (i) when engaged, engage both respective locking portions of the first and second energy absorbers thereby locking the seat shell in a discrete position of the plurality of positions and (ii) when disengaged, enable the first and second energy absorbers to slide relative to the base such that the seat shell moves to a different position of the plurality of positions.

A method of adjusting a position of a seat shell of a child safety seat, the seat shell configured to receive and secure a child therein and coupled to a base of the child safety seat such that the seat shell is alternately movable between a plurality of positions relative to the base, wherein the base is configured to be operably coupled to a vehicle seat, the child safety seat further including an energy absorber and a locking slide, wherein the energy absorber includes a plurality of protrusions and is configured to deform in response to an impact and thereby absorb impact energy, the method comprising:

• translating the locking slide out of at least one protrusion of the energy absorber, thereby disengaging the locking slide, when the seat shell is in a first discrete position of the plurality of positions;
• adjusting the position of the seat shell from the first discrete position with the locking slide disengaged;
• and
• engaging the disengaged locking slide with at least one protrusion of the energy absorber thereby locking the seat shell in a second discrete position of the plurality of positions.