BR112020004615A2 - reinforced anchoring device for the removable fastening of a child seat in the rear seat of an automotive vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anchoring device for the removable fixing of a child seat (4) on the rear seat of an automotive vehicle, said anchoring device comprising two clamps in folded metallic wire (110, 120) welded in a support plate (130) intended to be attached to the floor (2) of said vehicle and able to serve as anchoring points for the locking members of the ISOFIX type (5) arranged in said child seat (4) brought in said bench, said anchoring device further comprising two metal reinforcement casings (150, 160) fixed rigidly to said plate (130), each housing extending to one of the corresponding clamps (10, 20) against which it is also rigidly fixed.

Description

“REINFORCED ANCHORAGE DEVICE FOR FIXING REMOVABLE CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE ”

REPORT Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of removable fastening systems for a child seat in the rear seat of an automotive vehicle, and in particular to the ISOFIX standard. Background of the Invention

[0002] The seats for children intended to be assembled in one piece on a seat of an automotive vehicle, designated by the term infant seat, allows to ensure the safety of children transported in transport vehicles, notably automotive vehicles.

[0003] These child seats are generally made up of a rigid shell attached to an armature comprising fastening means allowing, for example, to secure the child seats in the rear seat of an automotive vehicle. Particularly known are seats for children with universal fastening means designated by the name << ISOFIX >>, standardized by the ISO 13216 standard comprising a universal system for the removable fastening of a seat adapted to the morphology of children in the rear seat of motor vehicles.

[0004] This anchoring system aims to avoid the assembly errors that can occur with the universal models of these child seats, due to the difficulty of installation (very short waist, contortions, complex assembly scheme ...), and thus reducing the risk of injury in the event of a collision.

[0005] The international regulations ECE R14 and R 16 specify the dimensions, general requirements and rigid anchorage resistance requirements designed to cooperate with the detachable child restraint devices for rear vehicle seats.

[0006] These regulations require two rigid anchors to be positioned in the junction area of the seat cushion of the backrest of a vehicle's rear seat, these anchors being dimensioned and positioned to allow two metallic locking clamps to be easily and safely fixed corresponding seats on either side of the child seats.

[0007] These rigid anchors are generally constituted by a pair of tweezers of metallic wire bent in the shape of U and whose ends of the two side legs are fixed rigidly by welding to the seat armor.

[0008] This solution is not, however, feasible for seats whose rear part of the armor is rigidly tied to the floor, in order to avoid any articulation to the front of these anchorages in the event of a front impact of the vehicle.

[0009] It still needs primarily a consequent reinforcement of this armor that causes an over importing cost and a significant increase in the weight of the seat.

[0010] Another known solution is to directly weld these anchoring clamps on the vehicle floor.

[0011] This solution, however, presents the inconvenience of obliging the automotive manufacturers to provide different floor references depending on the rules regarding the retention of child seats in force in the countries or regions where the vehicle is destined, which lead notably to an increase management and storage costs.

[0012] In order to remedy this problem, patent application EP 0 936 104 A1 discloses an anchoring device intended to be removably mounted on the vehicle floor behind a rear seat.

[0013] The device comprises a sheet metal plate in which two pairs of anchoring clamps are welded in metallic wire folded in the shape of a U and being arranged so as to come in correspondence with the two side plates of the bench.

[0014] This anchoring device also includes fixing means able to cooperate with the elements provided on the floor to fix rigidly and removably to that floor.

[0015] In the event of a violent shock at the front of the vehicle and traction stresses exerted by the child seat clamps and being blocked, these U-shaped clamps are susceptible to contort forward and all the more so for their average plane of being inclined with relation to the plate resting on the floor.

[0016] In order to limit this torsion and to avoid that an impact on safety does not occur, the clamps are therefore arranged according to the medium cloths slightly inclined with respect to the plate, avoiding the use of this type of anchoring device on the plates -shapes of the vehicle in which the height adjustment between the lower edge of the rear seat (where the interface between the ISOFIX child seat locking clips and these clips is located) and the floor area located just behind the rear seat rear seat (and designed to accommodate the plate) exceeds a certain limit. Purpose and summary of the invention

[0017] The present invention therefore seeks to improve the situation;

[0018] It proposes in this sense an anchoring device for the removable fixing of a child seat in the rear seat of an automotive vehicle, the said anchoring device comprising two tweezers in folded metallic wire, welded on a support plate intended to be tied to the floor of said vehicle and able to serve as fixing points for the locking members of the ISOFIX type of said seat reported to said seat; characterized in that it further comprises two metal reinforcement casings fixed rigidly to the plate, each said casing extending to one of said corresponding clamps against which it is also rigidly fixed.

[0019] In view of the presence of these reinforcement casings fixed rigidly to both clamps and to the plate, the latter can be arranged according to a medium plane clearly more inclined face to face with the plate.

[0020] The anchoring device according to the invention can still be implanted with total security in the assembly of the automotive vehicle form plates, and included in those presenting a spacing in height, importing between the lower edge of the rear seat and the floor area located at the rear of that same rear seat.

[0021] According to the preferred characteristics of the anchoring device according to the invention: - each said clamp comprises a transverse filament intended to serve as a fixing point for said locking member of a child seat, as well as at least a curved side leg extending from one end of the transverse filament and being welded to said plate; - each said lateral leg successively comprises a proximal straight segment extending backwards from the corresponding end of said adhesion filament, a rear straight segment extending substantially vertical up to said plate, and a lower straight segment resting against said plate a which being rigidly fixed by welding; - said lower segment extends substantially longitudinally forward, each said leg further comprising a distal rectilinear segment extending said lower segment extending parallel to said rear segment and adhering said proximal segment to which its free end is welded;

- each said housing comprising a flat main wall extending in a vertical transverse plane and resting against the rear segment of at least one side leg of said corresponding clamp; - each said housing also comprising a totally flat wall extending forwards, partially curving the proximal segment of at least one said lateral leg of said corresponding clamp; - each said housing comprising a support foot protruding in front of said main wall and being welded against said plate as well as at least the lower segment of said side leg of said corresponding clamp; - one of said clamps comprising a side arm extending backwards and from the end of said adhesion filament opposite to said leg and being welded to a pivot plate of said seat rigidly connected to one end of said plate; - one at least of said clamps comprising two lateral legs extending from the two ends of said adhesion filament and symmetrically with respect to the median vertical longitudinal plane of the latter; and - said casings each being made by stamping from a cut sheet. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] A better understanding of the invention will be provided after a detailed description of it, in relation to the attached drawings, presented by way of example and not limiting, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of three rear quarters of a structure the rear seat of an automotive vehicle and two anchoring devices according to the invention tied to the floor of that vehicle and arranged on the plumb of these two side plates of that seat;

- Figure 2 represents an enlargement of detail II of Figure 1 showing the first anchoring device; - Figure 3 represents a view from the rear of that first anchoring device; - Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of three quarters from the front to the outside of the first anchoring device; - Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of three quarters of the rear of the outside of the first anchoring device; and - Figure 6 is an enlargement of detail VI of Figure 1 showing the second anchoring device. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0023] Figure 1 shows a rear seat structure 1 of an automotive vehicle, for example, double row, mounted on the floor 2 of that vehicle.

[0024] The seat structure 1 comprises two backrest reinforcements 10, 20 designed side by side in the direction of the vehicle width and presenting different dimensions: the first backrest reinforcement 10 intended to receive the back of a single passenger representing approximately 40% of the total width of the seat structure, while the second backrest armor 20 can accommodate up to two passengers, representing approximately 60% of that same width.

[0025] The two backrest armatures 10, 20 are mounted articulated oscillating from each other, around the same transverse axis and through two lateral plates arranged on part and on another part of the bench 1 (the latter anchored in the structure of the vehicle not being represented in the figures for easy reading) as well as a central plate 30 located between these two backrest reinforcements 10, 20 and being anchored to the floor 2.

[0026] Each of these two backrest armatures 10, 20 is still able to rotate between an elevated position in which it is slightly tilted backwards with respect to the vertical as shown in Figure 1, and a position extended appreciably horizontally allowing to increase the luggage compartment volume.

[0027] According to the invention, two anchoring devices 100, 200 are removably mounted on the floor 2 behind the seat structure 1 and each one is arranged in correspondence with one of the two side plates of that seat to allow the removable fixing of a corresponding child seat with one of the two side plates of that seat in order to allow the removable fixing of a respective child seat relative to the latter and being equipped with ISOFIX 5 locking metal clamps.

[0028] Following this description and by convention, the terms << front >>, << rear >>, << upper >> and lower >>, << longitudinal >> and << transversal >> will be defined with respect to the mounting position of an anchoring device according to the invention in the passenger cabin of an automotive vehicle.

[0029] The anchoring device 100, located in correspondence with the first reinforcement of the backrest 10 of smaller width, comprises two metal clamps of external fixation 100 and internal 120 spaced laterally and fixed rigidly in a metal support plate 130 tied to the floor 2 of the vehicle.

[0030] The anchoring device 100 will be described in detail with the support of Figures 2 and 3.

[0031] The support plate 130 consists of two semi-plates 131, 132 each made from a cut and embedded metal plate whose thickness is preferably between 2 and 3 mm (advantageously 2.5 mm), these two semi-plates 131, 132 extending in the extension between themselves and being welded together at the level of an overlap zone.

[0032] This plate 130 is attached to the vehicle's floor 2 by means of four fixing screws 6 successively passing through circular perforations arranged in the vicinity of these four corners and holes practiced in that floor 2.

[0033] As illustrated in Figure 2, the central plate 30 is advantageously fixed to the inner end of this support plate 130 by means of a square return 32 extending at the lower end of that plate 30 under the part of the inner end of the plate 130 and to it being welded. This makes it easier to assemble and use the fixing holes of that central plate 30 already arranged on the floor 2 to also fix them on the support plate 130.

[0034] The two clamps 110, 120 intended to serve the anchoring points for the two ISOFX 5 clamps of a child seat 4, are formed by a single bent metallic wire, advantageously in steel and having a diameter comprised advantageously between 6 and 10 mm, for example, or 7 or 8 mm.

[0035] With the support of Figures 4 and 5, the external anchoring clamps 110 comprise an upper straight fixation filament 111, extending transversely and intended to serve as an anchoring point for a first locking clamp 5 of a child seat 4. As well as two lateral legs external 112 and internal 113, curved in the shape of a P, extending from the two ends of this fixing filament 111 and symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal vertical plane of the latter.

[0036] Each side leg 112, 113 successively comprises: - a proximal rectilinear segment 112A, 113A constituting the amount of the P and extending backwards and downwards from the corresponding end of the fixation filament 111; - a rear straight segment 112B, 113B extending vertically and tilting slightly towards the median longitudinal vertical plane of filament 111 to a raised tray 113 arranged on plate 130 by stamping; - a lower straight segment 112C, 113C extending substantially longitudinally forward and resting against said tray 133 in which it is fixed by a weld bead, and; - a distal rectilinear segment 112D, 113D extending parallel to the rear segment 112B, 113B and joining the proximal rectilinear segment 113A in which its free end is fixed rigidly by welding at the level of the central zone of that segment 112A, 113A.

[0037] This particular conformation of the lateral legs 112, 113 makes it possible to reinforce the mechanical rigidity of the anchoring clamp 110 and to prevent the latter from deforming, in the event of a violent shock in the front of the vehicle, making the requests exerted by the clamp 5 of the seat for child 4 and being blocked.

[0038] With the support of Figures 2 and 3, the internal anchoring clamp 120 comprises an upper rectilinear fixing filament 121 extending transversely and intended to serve as an anchoring point for a second locking clamp 5 and a child seat 4 , as well as an external lateral arm 122 and an internal lateral leg 123 extending from the two ends of this fixation filament 121.

[0039] The internal side leg 123 is similar to the external side leg 113 of the external anchoring clamp 110 described below, its straight segment being fixed rigidly by a welding bead against a raised scale 134 arranged on the plate 130 by stamping.

[0040] The external side arm 122 extends substantially longitudinally backwards against the central plate 30 to which it is rigidly fixed by welding.

[0041] Like the side leg 123, this side arm 122 also allows to reinforce the mechanical rigidity of the anchor clamp 120 and prevent the latter from deforming, in the event of a violent shock in front of the vehicle, making traction requests exerted by the clamp 5 child seat 4 and being locked.

[0042] In order to further reinforce the mechanical rigidity of the anchoring clamps 110, 120, each between the two is associated with a respective reinforcement case 150, 160 made by stamping from a cut-out metal plate and rigidly fixed to the plate 130 as well as to the respective anchor clamp 110, 120.

[0043] With the support of Figures 4 and 5, the housing 150 comprises a flat main wall 151 extending in a vertical plane transverse to the rear of the clamp and external anchor 110 and whose lower edge is welded against the raised tray 133 of the plate 130 by two weld beads.

[0044] The main wall 151 also rests against the rear straight segments 112B and 113B of the two side legs 1112, 113, of this external anchor clamp 110, and being fixed to at least one of them by a welding cord made along a slot 152 disposed in that main wall 151.

[0045] The crankcase 150 also comprises a flat roof wall 154 extending in an upward and forward inclined plane partially covering the proximal rectilinear segments 112A, 113A of the lateral legs 112, 113 of this external anchor clamp 110, and being fixed to the latter by the two weld beads.

[0046] As illustrated in Figure 4, the crankcase 150 further comprises a support foot 152 protruding in front of the main wall 151 from its bottom, and being welded against the raised tray 133 of the plate 130 between the two lower segments 112C, 113C of the side legs 112, 113 of the external anchor clamp 110.

[0047] The foot 157 therefore comprises two symmetrical lateral extensions 158 in an arc of partially surrounding a corresponding lower segment 112C, 113C in which it is welded.

[0048] The crankcase 160 is identical to the crankcase 150, but its implantation in front of the anchor clamp 120 is different since it is slightly displaced on the inner side of the latter so as not to interfere with the fixing screw 6 and the central plate 30 (figure 2).

[0049] These main walls 161 and ceiling 164 thus rest solely and respectively against the rear segment and the proximal segment of the inner lateral leg 123, to which they are generally welded.

[0050] The anchoring device 200 with the support of Figure 6 will be briefly described below.

[0051] The latter, in correspondence with the side plate of the second seat 20 armor of greater width, comprises two external 210 and internal 220 anchor clamps spaced laterally and rigidly fixed on a metal support plate 230 tied to the vehicle's floor 2 .

[0052] The support plate 230 consists of stamping from a single piece of metal sheet cut out of the same thickness as that constituting the plate 130.

[0053] It is also attached to the vehicle's floor 2 by means of four fixing screws 6 successively passing through the circular perforations arranged in the vicinity of its two outer corners and in its internal part, and the holes practiced in that floor 2.

[0054] Designed to serve the anchoring points for the two ISOFIX locking clamps 5 of a child seat 4, the two anchoring clamps 210, 220 are identical to the external anchoring clamps 110 of the device 100 described above and each being welded in a similar way to the latter by the lower segments of its side legs in a respective elevated tray 233, 234 arranged on plate 230 by stamping.

[0055] Each of the anchoring clamps 210, 220 is also associated with a respective reinforcement case 250, 260 identical to the cases 150, 160 of the device 100 and whose bottom edge being welded against the corresponding raised tray 233, 234 of the plate 230 by two weld beads.

[0056] Each sump 250, 260 is also implanted in front of the corresponding anchor clamp 210, 220 in the same way as the sump 150 in front of the anchor clamp 110: its main wall 251, 261 thus resting against the rear straight segments of the two lateral legs of this anchor clamp 210, 220 and being fixed to at least one of them by a welding bead made along a slot arranged in this main wall 251, 261; while its ceiling part 254, 264 partially covers the proximal rectilinear segments of the lateral legs of this anchor clamp 210, 220 and being fixed on the latter by two welding strands.

[0057] According to the variants of the configuration not shown, the anchor clamps, plates and / or reinforcement cases represent different profiles or shapes.

[0058] Finally, remember that the present invention is not limited to the shapes of the configurations described and represented, but it encompasses any other variant of execution known to a technician in the field with knowledge of the state of the art.

Claims (10)

1. “STRENGTHENED ANCHORAGE DEVICE FOR FIXING REMOVABLE FROM A CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE ”said anchoring device comprising two folded metal wire clamps (110, 120, 210, 220) welded on a support plate (130, 230) intended to be tied to the floor (2) of the said vehicle and able to serve as anchoring points for the locking members of the ISOFIX type (5) of said child seat (4) brought in said seat (1), characterized by still comprising two metal reinforcement casings (150, 160, 250, 260) rigidly attached to said plate (130, 230), each said housing extending to one of said corresponding clamps (110, 120, 210, 220) against which it is also fixed rigidly. 2. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE", according to claim 1, characterized in that each said clamp (110, 120, 210, 220 comprises a transversal anchoring filament (111, 121) intended to serve as an anchoring point for said member locking (5) of a child seat (4), as well as at least one curved side leg (112, 113, 123), extending from one end of said transverse filament (111, 121) and being welded said plate (130, 230). 3. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to claim 2, characterized in that each said lateral leg (112, 113, 123) successively comprises a proximal rectilinear segment (112A, 113A) extending backwards from the corresponding end of said anchoring filament (111, 121), a rear straight segment (112B, 113B) extending substantially vertically to said plate (130, 230), and a lower straight segment (112C, 113C) resting against said plate (130, 230) to which it is rigidly fixed by welding. 4. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to claim 3, characterized in that said lower segment (112C, 113C) extends substantially longitudinally forward, each said leg (112, 113, 123) further comprising a segment distal rectilinear (112D, 113D) extending said lower segment (112C, 113C) extending parallel to said rear segment (112B, 113B and joining said proximal segment (112A, 113A) to which its end is welded. 5. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each said housing (150, 160, 250, 260) comprises a flat main wall (151, 161, 251, 261) extending in a plane vertical cross and resting against the rear segment (112B, 113B) of at least one said side leg (112, 114, 123) of said corresponding clamp (110, 120, 210, 220). 6. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to claim 5, characterized in that each said crankcase (150, 160, 250, 260) also comprises a flat roof wall extending forward, partially curving the proximal segment (112A, 113A ) of at least one side leg (112, 113, 123) of a corresponding clamp (110, 120, 210, 220). 7. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each said housing (150, 160; 250, 260) comprises a support foot (157) protruding from the front of said main wall (151, 161; 251, 261) and being welded against said plate (130, 230) as well as at least one lower segment (112C, 113C) of said side leg (112, 113, 123) of said corresponding clamp (110 , 120; 210, 220). 8. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that one of said clamps (110, 120) comprises a side arm (122) extending backwards from the end of said filament of anchoring (121) opposite said leg (123) and being welded to a hinge plate (3) of said seat (1) rigidly connected to one end of said plate (130). 9. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that at least one (110, 210, 220) of said clamps (110, 120, 210, 220) comprises two said side legs ( 112, 113) extending from the two ends of said anchoring filament (111) and symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal vertical plane thereof. 10. "ANCHORAGE DEVICE" according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casings (150, 160, 250, 260) are made by stamping from a cut metal plate.