AU609071B2

AU609071B2 - Child's safety seat

Info

Publication number: AU609071B2
Application number: AU81464/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Torsten Jacobi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-22
Filing date: 1987-11-20
Publication date: 1991-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-20
Also published as: DE8631340U1; AU8146487A; ZA878757B; NZ222635A

Description

_*III~LIIII*~-LICIIPF~1-~ i lci; COMMONWEALTH 0 F A U T A I PATENT ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICAT Q 9 0 7

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art-: CLASS INT. CLASS 0a 0 09 0 W i 0 0 o NAME OF APPLICANT: TORSTEN JACOBI This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing ADDRESS OF APPLICANT: Robert-Bosch-Str. 23, D-8679 Oberkotzau, Federal Republic of Germany.

4 0 NAME(S) OF INVENTOR(S) ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: As ABOVe.

DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the iest method of performing it known to me -1-

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1A The invention relates to a child's safety seat to be mounted on a vehicle seat.

iOn a number of occasions in the specification, the terms "Velcro" and "Velcro-type" are employed. It should be noted that "Velcro" is a Registered trade mark.

Such a child's seat is known, for example, from DE-PS 29 23 125.

For this seat no special fastening belts or the like are necessary, but there is an integrated fixture holding the child's seat and the child sitting in it through one of the three-point automatic belts of the vehicle. For this purpose the integralmoulded seat, preferably made of a dimensionally stable solid oeo synthetic material, is placed on the vehicle seat, the child is 001 put in the seat and the pelvis part of the three-point automatic belt is passed over the sitting area of the child's seat as well :o as over the child's lap, and the shoulder belt is diagonally passed over the child's chest. Through the usual fixation of the belt in the belt lock the child is held together with the *0 seat. The integral-moulded seat is provided with a backrest.

00 On either side of said backrest, side walls run in vertical direction and project forward. On one of these two side walls a guiding device can be fastened that holds the diagonal shoulder o oo belt at a height adapted to the body height of the child to 000 be transported. In the known child's seat this guiding device comprises a strip on the face edges of the side walls, said strip carrying in regular intervals snap-fastener low'r parts.

The snap-fastener lower parts can be covered with a strip in such a way that a loop is formed through which the shoulder belt is passed and which determines its height. This adjustable fixation at a certain height avoids that the diagonal shoulder belt runs, for example, over the child's neck or, for a tall child, is situated too low, so that in case of an accident there would be the danger of serious neck injuries or impaired retention, respectively.

i t I 2 It is a disadvantage of the known child's seat that the diagonal shoulder belt is just movably guided through the guiding loop provided on the side wall of the seat, because the child can displace the belt in longitudinal direction and pull it out, so that an optimal fit of the belt is no longer guaranteed. The desired protection in case of an accident is thus considerably impaired. At worst, the child can even free himself from the belt and fall out of the seat.

In fact, a use of the known child's seat in accordance with 4 safety specifications 'is only possible with three-point 0 o static belts, as in that case the child can be strapped 0a o 0 I into his seat with sufficient security, and through the 15 corresponding guiding device in combination with the static belts any displacement of the belt, both in height and in longitudinal direction, is excluded.

S Based on the above described disadvantages, the object of the invention is to provide a child's safety seat, in which the child's seat and the child sitting in it are 0, exclusively fixed by the three-point automatic belt, without having to accept losses of safety and protection in case of accidents.

4The invention therefore provides a child's safety seat adapted to be mounted on a vehicle seat and to be used in 4 4 4 conjunction with a three point vehicle seat belt. The 4 6 6 safety seat includes an integrally moulded seat with a backrest and, on each side of the backrest, a generally upright sidewall which projects forwardly of the backrest, and a guide device for a diagonal shoulder belt of the three point vehicle seat belt. The guide device is releasably mountable to one of the sidewalls for fixing the diagonal shoulder belt at a height suitable for a child sitting on the seat. The guide device includes means for l, 901221,gjnspe.003.81464.1e,2 I on the faces 27 of the side walls 11, 11', running parallel to said faces. The fabric length 34 is provided with attachments 36 of approximately square shape, distributed over its longitudinal sides 35 and protruding on either side at right angles.

01 0 0949 09 4 0 4 o 9 9 9, o r 3 deviating the diagonal belt when it is held by the guide device whereby the guide device is adapted to releasably fix the diagonal shoulder belt against travel relative to the guide device longitudinally of the belt, through tractional and frictional engagement with the belt.

When the belt is pulled quickly, it will cling to the deviation means in frictional connection and can no longer be displaced, in particular not by a child. On the contrary, if the child tries to free himself by pulling on the belt, the frictional connection between belt and guide device will become even stronger and the fixation will be reinforced. The high tractional forces acting upon the belt in case of an accident will also extremely reinforce 15 this fixation. Thus, the child's safety seat according to this invention combines several advantages. On the one hand it is universally applicable because both for its fixation and for holding the child, only a conventional three-point automatic belt is used and because it can be 20 mounted and dismounted and transferred to another vehicle particularly quickly and easily. Furthermore, it guarantees a maximum protection of the child in an accident, because the child cannot impair this protection through manipulations on the belt.

The deviation means preferably includes at least one deviation web and advantageously there are three spaced parallel deviation webs connected at their ends by respective transverse webs.

The deviation webs are preferably of rectangular crosssection: this further enhances the fixing properties of the guide device, as due to this cross section the guide device has edges over which the shoulder belt passes. A tractive force exerted on the shoulder belt will produce on these edges a particularly firm frictional connection and 901221,gjnpe.003,81464.1e3 4 an accordingly strong fixation of the belt.

e *0*0 01 0 ft*I olsi 0 o 0 0 4 Oo

OOIY

00 0 t s I L 6 004 oo a o 0* o 0 0 1 0 0 o a 4 0 0 0 0 o 0 The cross section of the central deviation web is preferably larger than that of the outer deviation webs.

This offers two advantages. On the one hand the guide device as a whole is reinforced, making it particularly robust and resistant against the high forces developing in an accident. On the other hand, the deflection of the shoulder belt from the plane of its course in the guide device is increased. This, in turn, increases the frictional adhesion and the resultant fixation of the shoulder oelt in longitudinal direction of the belt.

In one embodiment for fastening the guide device on the 15 integral-moulded seat of the child's safety seat at different heights, the locking unit comprises deformable projections such as fixing toggles with T-shaped free ends, protruding each from the outsides, turned away from each other, of the transverse webs, substantially in 20 prolongation of the central deviation web. The cross legs of the T-shaped ends are insertable in one slot each of one of two rows of slots worked into the cover of the seat and running along the side walls of the integral-moulded seat in the vertical direction. This design is particularly simple, the guide device being, nevertheless, reliably fastened on the integral-moulded seat. For the sake of a corresponding height adjustment, the T-shaped free ends of the fixing toggles have just to be taken out of their slots and re-inserted in higher or lower slots. The length of the slot rows corresponds to the required height adjustment range of the child's seat.

In a first alternative, the guide device may be situated outside the area of direct reach of the child sitting in the child's seat, thanks to the arrangement of the slot rows on the outsides, turned away from each other, of the 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.1et4

*J

side walls, so that the guide device and also the positioning of the shoulder belt are to a great extent protected against the child's manipulations.

Attention is drawn to the fact that, although only one guide device is usually used, two rows of slots may be provided, so that the child's seat can be mounted either on the right or on the left-hand side. The guide device will be fixed accordingly in the slot row of the outer side wall.

The fixing toggles may be rotated out of their normal position until they are in alignment with the slots. Then they can be inserted. When released, they will spring back 15 into their normal position. The fixating toggles are thus fixed in the slots and under the seat cover. For dismounting the guide device, one proceeds in reverse I order.

The preferred design of the slot rows according to claim 14 represents a particularly successful compromise between 4r reliable fixation and simple handling. Alternating slots S ft situated at an acute angle of preferably 45 and slots 1 whose longitudinal axes are parallel to the direction of the rows are arranged in one line. If the space between every two adjacent slots corresponds to an uneven fraction

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of the distance between the two fixing toggles of the 4 locking unit, the fixing toggles will in inserted position always be situated in one slot situated at an acute angle to row direction and in one slot parallel to the row direction. In fixing position the T-shaped free end of the fixing toggle inserted in the slot arranged parallel to the row direction will be turned by 90' against the slot. That means that it is fixed very safely in the slot. The second fixing toggle can be inserted into the slot by rotating it by 450 against the longitudinal direction of the row, as 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.Iet,5 i -i

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6 described above.

If the longitudinal axes of all slots of one row are arranged in one line and parallel to the direction of the row, the fixing toggles cf the locking unit have to be rotated by 900 each time they are inserted into the slots, but with this kind of fixation a particularly safe hold of the locking unit is obtained.

According to a second embodiment for the fixation of the guide device on the side walls of the integral-moulded seat the guide device is separably fastened on a velcro-type fabric carrier. The latter can be fixed at different heights on the seat cover of the faces of the side walls.

This alternative offers a particularly simple handling, as the fabric carrier is very easy to fix and to remove and can be continuously adjusted on the side walls at different S:heights.

To be able to introduce the diagonal shoulder belt into the guide device and around the deviation webs, the guide device can be fastened on the velcro-type fabric carrier by means of snap fastener connections situated on both sides outside its locking area. The snap fasteners combine two o 25 advantages regarding the handling: On the one hand they bring about a durable and solid connection between the o 0u~ guide device and the fabric carrier, but on the other hand the handling for mounting and removing the guide device is 0 eextremely simple.

The embodiment of the velcro-type fabric carrier according to claim 18 further improves the adhesion of the fabric carrier on the fabric covering the integral-moulded seat.

Through the overlapping of the attachments protruding from the fabric length on either side at right angles over the vertical face edges of the side walls, the fabric carrier 90122,gjnspe.003,81464.Iet6 -L -L.

i I i ~I 7 is fixed in two planes. As the adhesive force of velcrotype connections against shearing forces acting parallel to their plane of adhesion is stronger than against tractive forces acting at right angles to the adhesive surface, the adhesive surface substantially arranged in two main planes perpendicular to each other creates a particularly stable connection which can withstand all forces that may act upon the guide device.

Claim 19 indicates an embodiment in which it is no longer necessary, for an adjustment in height of the shoulder belt, to adjust in height the guide device itself, because

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the length of its deviation webs is a multiple of the belt breadth, so that the belt can be passed at different heights through the guide device, whose position is fixed.

For an adjustment in height the belt must simply be released and displaced parallel to the deviation webs. A quick pull on the belt restores the tractional and frictional connection between belt and guide device and the result fixation in height and in longitudinal direction.

In this simple way, the handling convenience is considerably increased. This is a particular advantage if, for example, the seat shall be alternatingly used by children different age and, therefore, different body height.

t t If the length of the deviation webs corresponds to the required height adjustment range of the guiding device, it has to be removed and fixed again only when mounting or dismounting the child's safety seat. As usually this is rarely done and is, furthermore, uncomplicated, the child's seat according to the invention is particularly userfriendly.

Tha preferred feature of claim 20 improves the fixation of the long locking unit.

90l221,gjnspe.003,81464.et7

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8 When using a guide device provided with extended deviation webs, it is no longer necessary to design it adjustable in height. therefore, instead of the rows of slots only two slots each have to be arranged on the side walls on the lower and upper limits of the height adjustment range (claim 19). If further fixing toggles are distributed over the length of the central deviation web, only a number of slots corresponding to the number and position of these fixing toggles must be distributed over the desired height adjustment range. The smaller quantity of slots reduces the manufacturing expenditure for the production of the seat cover. Furthermore, it increases the stability of said cover.

The embodiment according to claim 22 further improves the fixation of the shoulder belt in the guide device, as the enlargement plate incorporated makes the deviation angles i of the belt in the locking unit considerably greater than 900, i.e. the belt, in longitudinal section, is guided in a kind of "box pleat" (term from textile technology).

t According to the embodiment of claim 5 the openings in the r outer deviation webs can be bridged each by means of a sleeve which is displaceable along these webs. This measure serves for a better guiding and fixation of the shoulder belt, as in fixing position the outer deviation webs, thanks to the sleeve mounted on them, are no longer interrupted, so that the belt rests with its entire surface Sagainst the outer deviation webs. On the other hand, the belt is no longer stressed by the ends of the deviation webs and is thus treated more gently.

The guide device is preferably manufactured in a viscoelastic, dimensionally stable solid synthetic material and is thereby particularly well adapted to its intended use. The relatively massive deviation and longitudinal 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.1et8 Pi 8a webs yield only slightly under traction, pressure, or the like. In contrast to this, the attached one-piece fixing toggles, for example, which are to be inserted into the slots, are rotatable. Due to the viscoelasticity of the material and the resultant resilient force, they automatically spring back into their original position.

o 000 *490 00 4 09 C 0 o .o -r C C C C~o 0 0 0 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.1et9 -9- Fig. 1, a front view of the child's safety seat placed on a vehicle seat with a three-point automatic belt fastened, Fig. 2, a top view of the locking unit, Fig. 3, a side view of said locking unit from the direction of arrow III as per Fig. 2, no01 Fig. 4, a side view of said locking unit from the direction 0 0, of arrow IV as per Fig. 2, "oo Fig. 5 to 7, perspective views of the locking unit in different Oooo handling stages during its mounting, Fig. 8, a schematic horizontal section through the child's seat with the locking unit being mounted, Fig. 9 to 12, front and side views of child's seats with alter- S Tnative designs of slots and slot rows, to te ad j Fig.13, 14, alternative possibilities of arranging the slots Sin the slot rows, oD Fig.15, a perspective view of a locking unit with alternative a fixation by means of akseaV fabric carrier, Fig.16, 17, longitudinal sections in different handling positions pooo of the belt along the straight line XVI-XVI as per I Fig. 15,ero- 2 Fig.18, a top view of theai-rry fabric carrier, and Fig.19, 20, perspective views of locking units with extended deviation weas.

Fig. 1 shows the child's safety seat 1 (in the following simply called "child's seat") in its installation position on a vehicle seat, in this case the rear bench 2, making use of the system of an integrated fixture holding the child's seat 1 and the child sitting in it (not shown) exclusively by means of the three-point automatic belt of the vehicle.

10 The child's seat 1 comprises an integral-moulded seat 4, made in one piece out of a dimensionally stable solid synthetic material and consisting of a seat bottom body 5 and a backrest 6 with integrated headrest 7. On the two side edges 8 of the seat bottom body 5, which are parallel to the direction of motion, the two armrests 9 project vertically upwards. The two vertical side edges 8, 8' of the backrest 6 are provided with side walls 11ii, 11' running in vertical direction and projecting forward, in the direction of motion 10. The length of O, °projection of the side walls 11 is so dimensioned that on the 4 one hand the transported child is given sufficient lateral 00o stabilization and lateral protection against impacts in case of an accident, but on the other hand the view to either side is not obstructed.

o For a body-adapted positioning of the three-point automatic belt 3, the child's seat 1 is provided with various guiding devices. First of all, there are the two recesses 12 between the armrests 9 and the side walls 11ii. The pelvis part 13 of the belt 3 runs through these recesses 12 and thus over the lap of the child to be transported. As for reasons of safety 0 the position in height of the diagonal shoulder belt 14 of a the three-point automatic belt 3 must be adapted as precisely as possible to the body height of the child to be~transported, a guiding device 15 is fixed on the side wall 11' facing the upper articulation point of the belt 3, serving for fixing the shoulder belt 14 at the appropriate height. The shoulder belt 14 must not be situated too high, i.e. running over the child's neck, nor too low, running over the child's abdomen.

In the first case the child might be strangled in case of an accident, in the second case very serious internal injuries may occur. Furthermore, it must be made sure that the three-point automatic belt 3 is also fixed in its longitudinal direction, as otherwise the child will be able to manipulate the belt 3 and to displace it out of its desired position.

11 This is prevented by designing the guiding device 15 as a locking unit 16 which fixes the diagonal shoulder belt 14 both in height and in longitudinal direction. The function, fastening and height adjustment of the different embodiments of the locking unit 16 is described with reference to the further drawings 2 to Figures 2 to 4 show different views of a first embodiment of the guide device or locking unit 16, hereinafter referred to simply as the locking unit. It comprises a central deviation web 17 and the two outer deviation webs 18 which are parallel to each other, spaced, and substantially arranged in one plane. The ends of the -lt deviation webs 17, 18 are connected by means of transverse at..

15 webs 19. Through the openings 20, situated approximately o in the middle of the outer deviation webs 18, the shoulder belt 14 can be introduced into the guiding slots 21 between the deviation webs 17, 18. The length of the openings is a fraction of the belt breadth. Through its contact on S: 20 the deviation webs 17, 18 the shoulder belt 14 is fixed in longitudinal direction through tractional and fricational connection. In this fixing position the shoulder belt 14 runs substantially at right angles to the deviation webs 1.ea "17, 18 the frictional connection can best be compared with o0 o. 25 that of a belt buckle without tongue.

The cross section of the deviation webs, 17, 18 is a rectangular so that the fold-shaped deviation of the shoulder belt 14 on their edges produces a particularly strong frictional connection and thus a stable fixing.

r Furthermore, the cross section of the central deviation web 17 is enlarged at the bottom, whereby the locking unit 16 as a whole gains a particularly high stability.

The locking unit 16 comprises deformable projections in the form of fixing toggles, protruding each from the outsides 22, turned away from each other, of the transverse webs 19, substantially in prolongation of the central deviation web 17, whose function becomes clear with reference 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.let,11 12 04 0 o 004 0 0 0 0000 to drawings 5 to 7. The fixing toggles 23 are provided with T-shaped free ends 24 whose cylindrical cross legs 25 can be rotated against the main plane formed by the deviation 17, 18. The fixing toggles 23 project from this main plane downwards at an acute angle 26. In their normal position the longitudinal direction of the cross legs 25 is parallel to tne main plane.

Fig. 5 to 7 show the procedure of fastening the locking unit 16 on the face 27, turned towards the direction of motion 10, of the side wall 11'. According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 to 7 one slot row 28 each has been worked into the faces 27, said slot row ru~nning in vertical direction in the cover 29 that covers the entire integral-moulded seat 4. The slots 30 of a slot row 28, whose brims are reinforced, are spaced and arranged parallel to each other, and they form an angle of approximately 450 to the row direction 31. Starting with the locking unit 16 in separated position, as shown in Fig. 5, the diagonal shoulder belt 14 of the three-point automatic belt 3 is first of all brought into the corresponding position in height on the faces 27 of the side wall 11'. Then the lockiLng unit 16 is placed before the belt, namely by rotating the cross legs 25 of the fixing toggles 23 against thellft-i-tt- d~----sttl-s 19, so that the cross legs can be introduced into the slots at the appropriate height each. Then the cross legs 25 will under the seat cover spring back into their initial position through their resilient force, so that they can no longer be pulled out. Th,, situation is represented in Fig. 6. The shoulder belt 14 is fixed in its longitudinal direction by passing the belt through the openings in the two outer deviation Lj~ 18. Thus, the shoultder belt 14 runs over the first outer deviation s"ud 18, is deviated by the latter backwards through the first guiding slot 21, passes behind the central deviationk4u-d 17 and through the second guiding slot 21 back to the front, and then pro~eeds over the second outer deviationke~ 18. In a cross sectional view, the course of the belt is substantially U-shaped, which 13 is shown in particular in Fig. 7 and 8. After having passed the shoulder belt 14, a quick pull on the belt will be sufficient to fix the desired position of the belt, shown in Fig. 7 and 8, by frictional connection on the deviation"stud 17, 18. From the above description it is clear that the position in height and in longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt 14 and the~ locking unit 16, respectively, can be adapted independently from each other. For an adaption in height, the locking unit 16 to- D~ge-her with the shoulder belt 14 simply has to be inserted into another, corresponding pair of slots. To change the position in longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt 14 against the locking unit 16, simply the two belt lengths coming from the locking unit 16 have to be released manually and fixed anew in the required longitudinal position by a quick pull. To place the child's seat on the other side, with a mirror-inverted course of the belt, as compared with that shown in Fig. 1, the locking unit has to be inserted into the slot row 28 on the right-hand side in Fig. 1.

~c4As shown in Fig. 9 and 10, the slot rows 28 can be arranged each on the faces 27 of the side walls 11, 11', it is, however, also 6possible to situate them on the outsides 32, turned away from Seach other, of the side walls 11, 11' near the edge of the Sfaces 27 (Fig. 10). The arrangement of slot pairs shown in Fig. 11 and 12 is explained in greater detail in connection with the Fig. 19 and Fig. 13 and 14 show alternative possibilities of arranging the slots 30 within the slot rows 28. According to Fig. 13 the longitudinal axes of all slots 30 of a row 28 are arranged in one line parallel to the row direction 31. As becomes clear from the description of Fig. 5 to 7, the fixing toggles 23 must in this case be rotated by an angle of 90' against the r-.,icsa -"s s~ts19 of the locking unit 16, in order to enable their insertion into the slots. For inserting the first fixing toggle 23 it is, of course, also possible to rotate the whole locking unit 16. As the fixing toggles in inserted position (not shown) 1S 14 form an angle of 900 to the slots 30, a particularly stable fixation of the locking unit 16 in the slot row 28 is obtained in this case.

An advantageous compromise between easy handling and stable fixation is reached by arranging the slots 30 as shown in Fig. 14.

Alternatingly slots 30 situated at an acute angle of approximately 450 and slots whose longitudinal axes are parallel to the row direction 31 are arranged in one line. If the distances in length o are chosen in such a way that the distance between the cross legs G. 25 of the fixing toggles 23 corresponds to an uneven multiple of 0 the spaces between the individual slots 30, arranged in different positions, the locking unit 16 will always be fixed by one slot S parallel to the row direction and one slot situated at an acute angle to the row direction. That means that, when inserting the S locking unit 16, it is practical to insert first of all one fixing toggle 23 into a slot situated parallel to the row direction 31 by rotating the whole locking unit 16 by 90* against the row direction 31. The hold of this fixing toggle in the corresponding slot 30 is particularly stable. The second fixing toggle 23 needs only to be rotated by an angle of approximately 450 and can then also be inserted into the corresponding slot c c SFig. 15 to 17 show an alternative possibility of fastening the locking unit 16 on the side walls 11, 11'. The basic body of the locking unit 16 with the deviationksrttds 17, 18 and the longitudinal studs 19, designed analogously to the before mentioned drawings, is separably fixed as a whole on akbirr fabric carrier 33. The shoulder belt 14 is fixed in longitudinal direction in the way already described. Thelb=3xry fabric carrier 33 is adjusted in height by simply pulling it off the fabric of the cover of the integral-moulded seat and re-placing it at another height. Fig. 18 is a top view of the.h.a fabric carrier. It comprises a fabric length 34 of approximately rectangular shape running parallel to the deviation~s&ls 17, 18, or, when placed on the faces 27 of the side walls 11, 11', running parallel to said faces. The fabric length 34 is provided with attachments 36 of approximately square shape, distributed over its longitudinal sides 35 and protruding on either side at right angles.

In fixing position part of the total length of tLe fabric length 34 covers the face 27 of the side wall 11, 11'. The lateral attachments 36 overlap the vehicle face edges 37 of the side walls 11, 11' and are thus substantially arranged in a plane situated at right angles to the fabric length 34, so that the fixing surfaces of the velcro-type fabric carrier 33 are arranged in two main planes perpendicular to each other. As the adhesive force of velcro-type connections against shearing forces acting parallel to the ,fixing surface is particularly high, the demonstrated f tmethod of fastening the velcro-type fabric carrier guarantees its stable fixation which can withstand all

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forces that may act upon the velcro-type fabric carrier 33.

o I With reference to Figures 15 to 17, the special structure of the locking unit 16 in this embodiment and its separable fixation on the velcro-type fabric carrier 33 are explained. The underside of the central deviation web 17 S" 25 is provided with a rectangular shaped enlargement plate 38 situated parallel to said underside. Its longitudinal r sides 39, which are parallel to the studs are arranged in S.the overlapping area with the outer deviation studs 18.

The enlargement plate 38 protrudes on either side over the 1 4, 1, transverse webs 19 of the locking unit 16, in prolongation btof the deviation webs 17, 18. The protruding areas of the enlargement plate 38 are provided each with a snap-fastener upper part 40 that can be engaged into a snap-fastener lower part 41 fixed on the fabric length 34 of the fabric carrier 33, thus creating the separable connection between the locking unit 16 and the fabric carrier 33. For fastening and adapting the guiding device 15 designed in such a way, one proceeds as follows: L-S U 901221,.gjnspe.o 3,81464.1e15 '%ok i; i 16 First of all one fastens the xrrz fabric carrier 33 at the corresponding height on the face 27 of the side wall 11'. Then one puts the shoulder belt 14 over it and presses the locking unit 16 onto it. This condition is shown in Fig. 16 in a longitudinal section parallel to the belt. Then one passes the shoulder belt 14 through the two openings 20 of the outer deviation we o 18. As a result the belt runs as shown in Fig. 17, the shoulder belt 14 entering over the first outer deviation ~e 4 18, passing underneath the enlargement plate 38, being guided Supwards again and coming out over the second outer deviation SL 18'. That means that the course of the belt, in longitudinal section, forms a kind of box pleat. In this embodiment, the outer deviationj~si±&s 18 and the enlargement plate 38 deviate the S' shoulder belt 14 by an angle considerably greater than 900.

That means that the belt, when pulled in its longitudinal direction, is fixed in a particularly stable manner.

SFig. 19 and 20 show another alternative embodiment of the locking unit 16, the length of the deviation studs being a multiple of the belt breadth. A length adapted to the desired height adjust- Sment range of the guiding device 15 will be particularly ad- S vantageous because in the latter case the locking unit 16 does not have to be displaced to accordingly adjust the shoulder belt 14 in height. When the shoulder belt 14 is released it can be displaced within the locking unit along the deviation uze\s 17, 18 up to the desired height position and then, by a quick pull on the belt, be fixed both in height and in longitudinal direction.

For stabilization and better fixation of the locking unit 16, further fixing toggles 23' may be arranged on the locking unit 16. In such an embodiment, a uniform distribution of the fixi.ig toggles 23, 23' over the length of the locking unit 16 will be advantageous. Of course, the arrangement of the slots 30 must correspond to the position of the fixing toggles 23, 23' 17 Reference is made to Fig. 11 and 12, according to which only one pair of slots 30 is necessary in the side walls 11, 11'.

Said slots are situated on the lower and upper limits of the desired height adjustment range. Here it is only necessary to insert into the slots 30 the extended embodiment of the locking unit 16. Longitudinal and height adjustments are effected by displacing and fixing the shoulder belt 14 in the locking unit 16 itself.

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Fig. 20 shows, like in an explosion drawing, the sleeve 42, which is displaceable along the outer deviationljsds 18, and (ee t by means of which the openings 20 can be bridged after the 1 shoulder belt 14 has been passed through. The closing position of the sleeve 42 is preferably fixed by a lock (not shown).

It is pointed out that the deviation studs and/or the enlargement cV plate are provided with a covering having a high coefficient of friction, at least on their surfaces contacting the shoulder belt 14. This improves even more the holding force for the r.t longitudinal fixation of the shoulder belt 14.

4 0 The reference numerals in the following claims -et---i-ay way Si t limit pe oT tE e respective claims.

I it

Claims

2. A child's safety seat according to claim 1 wherein said deviation means includes at least one deviation web. '1 0 ou" 3. A child's safety seat according to claim 2 wherein a 25 said guide device comprises three spaced parallel deviation S"-S webs connected at their ends by respective transverse webs. e 4. A child's safety seat according to claim 3 wherein the 0 ga .two outer deviation webs are broken to form respective 2 30 openings through which the diagonal shoulder belt may be introduced into the guide device, said openings being -narrower than the width of the shoulder belt. A child's safety seat according to claim 4 further comprising respective sleeves displaceable on the outer deviation webs for bridging said openings. 901 2 2 0,gjnpe.003,8l464.1et18 ^mjy I'14 -19-
6. A child's safety seat according to claim 3, 4 or wherein the cross section of the central deviation web is larger than the cross section of each of the outer deviation webs.
7. A child's safety seat according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the deviation web(s) are of rectangular cross-section.
8. A child's safety seat according to any preceding claim wherein said side walls are each provided with plural slots r and said guide device includes a pair of deformable *ft i, projections adapted to releasably engage respective said slots to releasably mount the guide device to one or other 15 of said side walls. r 9. A child's safety seat according to claim 8 wherein C said projections comprise T-shaped fixing toggles protruding from at or adjacent respective ends of said guide device. toot
10. A child's safety seat according to claim 8 or 9 and tt r t F I claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said projections are disposed at the respective ends of said central deviation web.
11. A child's safety seat according to claim 8, 9 or C t wherein a row of multiple slots is arranged in each side c t wall, and wherein the slots generally face in the direction t of travel.
12. A child's safety seat according to claim 8, 9 or wherein a row of multiple slots is arranged in each side wall in the outside laterally facing surfaces of the side walls.
13. A child's safety seat according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the slots are arranged parallel to each other at an S 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.Iet,19 fIVT 0 ^2^ i~j^ acute angle to the row direction.
14. A child's safety seat according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the slots are alternately arranged at an acute angle to the row direction and parallel to the row direction. A child's safety seat according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the slots of each row are arranged with their 10 longitudinal axes co-linear in the row direction.
16. A child's safety seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the guide device is separably fastened on a Velcro-type fabric carrier which can be fixed at different heights on a fabric cover of the side walls. C t
17. A child's safety seat according to claim 16 wherein the guide device can be fastened on the Velcro-type fabric too* carrier by means of snap-fastener connections situated on 20 either side of the belt engagement area. 0
18. A child's safety seat according to claim 16 or 17 and claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the Velcro-type fabric carrier 446 comprises a length of fabric of approximately rectangular shape which when fastened to the guide device extends parallel to the deviation webs and in its fixing position 4* rests against the forward face of the side wall, and which is provided with attachments which protrude on both sides at right angles to the length of fabric, said attachments overlapping in the fixing position the vertical edges of said forward face of the side wall.
19. A child's safety seat according to any preceding claim wherein the length of the deviation webs is a multiple of the belt width, to permit height adjustment of the belt longitudinally of the webs. 901220,gjnspe.003,81464.1et20 -21- A child's safety seat according to claim 19, wherein there are more than two deformable projections distributed over the length of the central deviation web, which projections are adapted to releasably engage respective complementary slots in said side walls to releasably mount the guide device to one or other of said side walls.
21. A child's safety seat according to claim 20, wherein the number of said slots in each side wall equals the 10 number of said deformable projections, and said slots are O distributed in a manner to complement the distribution of D o a the projections on said central deviation web. 00 00 000
22. A child's safety seat according to any one of claims 15 4 to 21 when appended to claim 3, wherein the underside of o the central deviation web is provided with a rectangular 0 00 plate which is parallel to said underside and whose longitudinal sides are parallel to the central deviation web and are situated in an area overlapping the outer 20 deviation webs. 000fl 0 0 0 0o 0
23. A child's safety seat according to claim 22 and any S" one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said Velcro-type fabric is provided on said plate.
24. A child's safety seat according to one of the previous claims wherein the guide device is made of a viscoelastic, dimensionally stable solid synthetic material.
25. A child's safety seat according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein said deviation means is provided with a covering having a higher coefficient of friction, than the diagonal shoulder belt. LS 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.1et,21 T 0 04 2 22-
26. A child's safety seat substantially as hereinbefore, described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 19th day of December 1990 TORSTEN JACOBI By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON iT. I 'itt t;~ it t ii I t t It C 901221,gjnspe.003,81464.et22