DE20001394U1 - child seat - Google Patents

Description

10424 JS/sz

child seat

The present invention relates to a child seat to be installed on a seat or an adult seat in a vehicle.

The child seat is integrally designed with a seat part on which a child is placed and a back part on which the child's back can lean.

A conventional child seat has heretofore been secured to a seat in a vehicle by means of a belt of a seat belt device for an adult. In the case where the child seat is secured to the normal seat by the belt as described above, in order to secure the child seat, the belt must be pulled out and passed through and/or hooked to predetermined parts. Accordingly, securing a child seat has heretofore been troublesome, cumbersome and inconvenient. In addition, since the child seat is bulky, this securing requires considerable labor even for bringing the child seat into the interior of the vehicle.

European patent publication EP 841 209 A1 discloses that for attaching a child seat, a receiving part formed of rods is provided on the left and right side of a normal seat in a vehicle, and the child seat is detachably attached to the receiving part.

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The child seat comprises two vertical parts extending rearward, and front ends of the vertical parts are provided with engaging parts which are engaged with the receiving part. Arms which are rotatable in the front and rear directions are provided on the left and right sides of the child seat, and the arms are adapted to be brought into abutment against the seat back of the normal seat in the vehicle to thereby prevent the child seat from fluctuating or floating back and forth.

According to EP 841 209 A1, since the child seat is integrally formed as a whole and its bulkiness and weight are relatively large, a fairly large amount of work is required to bring the child seat into and out of the vehicle and to attach the child seat to the normal seat.

The object of the present invention is therefore in particular to provide a child seat which can be extremely easily attached to a seat or normal seat in a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a child seat that can be easily carried and/or handled.

Briefly, a child seat according to the present invention comprises a child seat main body having a seat part on which the child is placed and a backrest part on which the child's back can lean, and a base on which the child seat main body is mounted or mountable. The base is provided with a connecting part to be connected to the vehicle and the child

seat main body is detachably attached or attachable to the base. In order to attach the child seat main body to the base, the base is provided with a child seat main body attachment part, the child seat main body is provided with an engagement part for engaging with the attachment part, and either the base or the child seat main body is provided with an engagement release part for releasing the engagement.

In the child seat according to the invention, after the base is attached to the vehicle, the child seat main body is mounted on the base. By forming the base and the child seat main body separately as described above, both the base and the child seat main body can be easily brought into and out of the interior of the vehicle.

In addition, in the case where only the base, which is separate from the child seat main body, is attached to the seat or normal seat, the operation of attaching the base is easy to perform because the base does not need to be attached at the same time as the child seat main body. ■

The fastening member is preferably movable generally parallel to the upper surface of the base and preferably comprises a hook which can be moved to an engagement position in which the hook is engaged with the engagement member and which can be further moved to an engagement release position remote from the engagement position; furthermore, the fastening member preferably comprises a spring for urging the hook toward the engagement position.

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In this case, when the engaging part of the base body is placed on the hook and pushed downward, the hook is moved back and the engaging part enters deep into the engaging position, and then the hook is urged by the spring to be moved forward again, so that the engagement between the engaging part and the hook is then completed. In order to release the engagement, it is preferable that the hook is arranged and/or arranged to be movable in the forward and backward direction of the base body, and the engagement release part is connected to the hook, preferably with the front end thereof facing the front surface of the base body. By moving the operating part or the engagement release part in the forward and backward direction, the engagement between the hook and the engaging part can be made complete on the one hand and released on the other.

In order to prevent the base from being floated or fluctuated, it is preferable to provide a fluctuation preventing member which prevents the base main body from being floated or fluctuated on the seat cushion by abutting against the seat back in the vehicle. It is also preferable that the fluctuation preventing member is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the base main body in the front and rear directions and has an abutment member for abutting against the seat back, and a one-way coil or coil spring for preventing the abutment member from being rotated forward.

According to the present invention, in the state in which the child seat main body is mounted on the base,

possible to block the release of the engagement of the child seat with the vehicle. For this purpose, an operating part for releasing the engagement of the child seat with the vehicle can be provided in the base, and a preventing or blocking part for preventing the movement of the operating part in the direction of release of the engagement in the child seat main body.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are described and explained below using preferred embodiments of a child seat according to the invention with reference to the figures of the drawing, which show essential features of these embodiments; they show:

Figure 1 is an exploded, disassembled perspective view of a child seat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view compared to Figure 1, taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a hook and a rod engaging part;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a front end portion of an arm;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the engagement relationship between the arm and a clamping rod;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a base;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a shaft and a one-way coil or unidirectional coil spring;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which the child seat according to an embodiment of the invention is attached to a normal seat;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating part of another embodiment of a child seat according to the invention; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view compared to Figure 9, taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 9.

In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, reference is first made to Figures 1 to 8, with the aid of which preferred embodiments of a child seat according to the invention are explained.

The child seat 10 shown in Figure 8 is installed on a seat or an adult seat 20 in a vehicle, the seat 20 having a seat cushion 22 and a seat back 24. The child seat 10 includes a child seat main body 12 and a base 18 to which the child seat main body 12 is detachably attached. A connecting bottom plate 14 is integrally provided on the child seat main body 12. The base 18 is mounted on and secured to the seat cushion 22 of the seat 20 in the vehicle.

The child seat main body 12 includes, as shown in Fig. 1, a seat part 30, a back part 32 and armrest parts 34 and is integrally formed by, for example, a synthetic resin or material such as urethane or the like. It is preferable that the bottom plate 14 is integrally fixed to a bottom surface of the child seat main body 12 by insert molding, screwing, riveting or the like.

The bottom plate 14 includes a main plate portion 40 in a rectangular shape; a flange 42 extending from the back of the main plate portion 40; an opening 44 provided in the front portion of the main plate portion 40; and a rod 46 arranged parallel to the front of the main plate portion 40 such that the rod crosses the opening 44.

The base 18 basically comprises: a base main part 50 in the shape of a rectangular plate; a pair of arms 52 extending rearward from both edges of the rear part of the base main part 50; holding parts 54 provided at the free ends of the arms 52; a hook 56 disposed in the front part or region of the base main part 50; a rod engaging part 58; an operating part 60 for releasing the engagement of the hook 56 (with the rod 46 as shown in detail in Fig. 2 and described below); a reciprocating stopper 62 as a fluctuation preventing part provided on the upper surface of the rear part of the base main part 50; a lever 64 for releasing the fluctuation stopper 62; a flange receiving or pressurizing part 66 which engages the flange 42; an actuating part 68 for unclamping or releasing the holding parts 54; and window 70

for indicating the holding state, provided that this is currently being effected by the holding parts 54; and the like.

The holding parts 54 of the arms 52, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, hold clamping rods 74 provided on both the left and right sides of the rear part of the seat 20 in the vehicle. The rods 74 extend in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, as clearly shown in Figure 5, for example. On the rear edge side of each arm, there is provided a recessed part 76 for receiving therein the respective rod 74, and also a hook 78 for latching or locking the clamping rod 74 entered into the recessed part 76.

Each hook 78 is vertically rotatable by means of a shaft or shank (not shown) and is simultaneously urged in a predetermined direction (in the downward direction in Figure 4) so that the claw portion 78a of the hook 78 is engaged with and held by the rod 74, the urging being effected by means of a spring (not shown). When the rod 74 enters the recessed portion 76, the rod 74 strikes the inclined surface 78b of the hook 78. As a result, the rod 74 urges the claw portion 78a of the hook 78 upward so that the rod 74 further enters the recessed portion 76. When the rod 74 enters the recessed portion 76 beyond the claw portion 78a, the claw portion 78a is pressed downward by the above-mentioned spring (not shown) so that the rod 74 is held in a latched state.

It should be noted that when the rod 74 is inserted further beyond the claw portion 78a into the recessed portion 76,

occurs, strikes a block 80 so as to push it forwards (to the right in Figure 4) and moves it. The block 80 is normally pushed rearward (to the left in Figure 4) by means of a spring 82. To the block 80 is connected one end of a connecting rod 84, the other end of which is connected to the rear end of a linkage 86 (Figure 6).

The rod or rod member 86 is rotatable about a support shaft 88. At the front end of the member 86 there is provided a colored plate 90 which faces a window opening 70 (see Figures 1 and 9). The colored plate has two colors, for example red on the left half and green on the right half thereof.

In the case where the block 80 has not been pushed inward by the clamping rod 74, the red surface faces the window opening 70 and, accordingly, the red color is visible from outside the base 18. In the case where the clamping rod 74 has entered the recessed portion 76 to such an extent that it is held in a clamped or locked state by the hook 78, the block 80 has been pushed inward by the rod 74 to such an extent that the connecting rod 84 has been moved to the right side in Figures 4 and 6 and the member 86 has been rotated about the support shaft 88 so that only the green surface of the colored plate 90 faces the window opening 70.

Accordingly, in the case where only the green color is visible in the window opening 70, one can visually confirm that the clamping rod 74 is latched or locked by the hook 78.

In order to be able to release the latched or locked state of the bars 74 by the hooks 78, the actuating part 68 and the hooks 78 are connected by a forward and backward movable plate 92 and hook actuating rods 94.

The operating member 68 can therefore be moved in the front and rear directions of the base 18 within an opening 96 on the upper surface of the base 18. The forward or backward movable plate 92, which is integral with, preferably fixedly connected to, the operating member 68, extends in the left and right directions (see particularly Figure 6), and the front ends of the hook operating rods 94 are connected to the forward or backward movable plate 92. The rear ends of the hook operating rods 94 are connected to the respective ends of the hooks 78, and when the rods 94 are moved to the right in Figure 6, the claw parts 78a of the hooks 78 are raised, thereby releasing the engagements between the claw parts 78a and the clamping rods 74.

In the case where the right and left arms 52 are connected to the clamping rods 74, respectively, although the base 18 cannot be moved in the front and rear direction and the left and right direction with respect to the vehicle, the front edge side of the base 18 can be raised or fluctuated in the vertical direction. As a fluctuation preventing member for preventing the front edge side of the base 18 from being floatably moved back and forth (fluctuated), the fluctuation stopper 62 is provided.

The fluctuation stop 62 is formed from a tube of inverted U-shape as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1,

As shown in Fig. 7, the lower ends of the fluctuation stopper 62 are connected to a shaft 100 through pins 98 so as to be integrally connected therewith. The shaft 100 extends in the left and right direction with respect to the base 18 and is rotatably supported by the left and right wall portions 102 (see Fig. 1) of the flange holding portion 66.

A so-called one-way coil spring 110, or a coil spring 110 which effectively acts in one direction, is closely attached to the shaft 100. The one-way coil spring 110 is formed of a left half portion 112 and a right half portion 114 in series, and an extended portion 116 which extends in a loop shape in the radial direction with respect to the shaft 100 is provided between the left half portion 112 and the right half portion 114. By attaching a cover to the extended portion 116, the lever 64 (see, for example, Figs. 1 and 9) is formed.

The left end 118 and the right end 120 of the one-way coil or helical spring 110 are connected to the left wall portion 102 and the right wall portion 102, respectively, so that both ends of the coil or helical spring 110 cannot rotate about the shaft 100. Since the coil or helical spring 110 is tightly mounted on the shaft 100, in the event of an attempt to rotate the fluctuation stop 62 in the direction F or in the direction R in Figure 7, the coil or helical spring 110 will tend to rotate together with the shaft 100. When the fluctuation stop 62 is rotated in the direction R, since the rotational force applied to the coil or helical spring 110 acts in such a direction that the coil or helical spring 110 is loosened, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 100 on the

inner peripheral surface of the coil or coil spring 110. Accordingly, the fluctuation stopper 62 can freely rotate in the R (reverse) direction.

In the case where an attempt is made to rotate the fluctuation stopper 62 in the direction F (forward direction), since the shaft 100 applies a rotational force to the spool or coil spring 110 in such a direction that the spool or coil spring 110 is constricted or "tightened", the spool or coil spring 110 is fixed extremely tightly to the shaft 100, thus preventing the shaft 100 from rotating and thereby preventing the fluctuation stopper 62 from rotating in the direction F.

When the lever 64 is pushed in the direction R, the extended portion 116 is also rotated in the direction R so that the coil spring 110 is loosened and the fluctuation stopper 62 can rotate in the direction F. Therefore, after the base 18 is mounted on the seat cushion 22 and the arms 52 of the base 18 are connected to the clamping rods 74, the fluctuation stopper 62 is pushed rearward to be pressed against the seat back 24 so that the base 18 is fixed to the seat 20 so that it is not moved in the forward or backward direction, left or right, or in the vertical direction. When the lever 64 is pushed to rotate the fluctuation stopper 62 forward and then the operating member 68 is pulled forward to pull the claw parts 78a of the hooks 78 upward, the base 18 can be removed from the seat.

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In the case where the child seat main body 12 is attached to the base fixed to the seat 20, after the flange 42 of the connecting bottom plate 14 is inserted into the lower side of the flange receiving or pressing part 66 , the front side of the child seat main body 12 is pressed downward to thereby cause the rod 46 to be connected to the base 18 by means of the rod engaging part 58 and the hook 56.

The rod engaging member 58 is, as illustrated by the enlarged views in Figs. 2 and 3, a rail-shaped member extending in the left and right direction with respect to the base 18 and fixed to the base 18 by screws or the like. The upper surface of the rod engaging member 58 is provided with a groove 130 in the longitudinal direction thereof for receiving the rod 46 therein (see particularly Fig. 3).

A recessed portion or region 132 for receiving therein the claw portion 56a of the hook 56 is provided in an intermediate or middle portion of the longitudinal direction of the rod engaging portion 58. The hook 56 is preferably formed integrally with a sliding plate 140 as shown in Figure 2, and the sliding plate 140 is integrated with the operating portion 60, for example formed integrally therewith.

The actuating member 60 is urged forwardly by a spring 142. As shown in Figure 2, the hook 56 projects upright through an opening 144 in the upper surface of the base 18. The upper surface of the claw portion 56a of the hook 56 has, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a downward slope 56b which extends forwardly to downwardly.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the rod 46 of the connecting bottom plate 14 is pressed from the top against the slope 56b, the hook 56 is pushed back and the rod 46 enters the groove or channel 130. When the rod 46 has passed the claw part 56a, that is, has reached the position of Fig. 2, the hook 56 is moved forward by the urging force of the spring 142 and the claw part 56a takes a position above the rod 46 (see Fig. 2), thereby fixing the connecting bottom plate 14 and the child seat main body 12 integrally connected therewith to the base 18.

To release the engagement, the actuating member 60 is pressed so that the hook 56 is moved back and then the child seat main body 12 is pulled upward.

As described above, in the present child seat, since the child seat main body 12 and the base 18 are formed separately, the child seat main body 12 and the base 18 can be separately brought into the vehicle and separately mounted therein. In the case where the operation of attaching the base 18 is carried out, since the child seat main body 12 is separated therefrom, the operation of connecting between the holding parts 54 of the arms 52 and the clamping rods 74 can be carried out very easily and smoothly.

In order to fix the base 18, after the arms 52 and the clamping or fixing rods 74 have been brought into engagement with each other, the fluctuation stop 62 only needs to be pushed backwards. Accordingly, the fixing of the base 18 can be carried out extremely simply and easily,

and yet the fixing strength of the base 18 is extremely high. When the child seat main body 12 is to be fixed to the base 18, the flange 42 is inserted under the bottom of the flange receiving or pressing part 66, and then the front of the child seat main body 12 is pressed downward. Accordingly, the fixing of the child seat main body 12 can be carried out very simply, easily and quickly. Moreover, the connection between the child seat main body 12 and the base is still extremely strong, firm and reliable.

It should be noted that in another embodiment of the invention, the rear surface of the child seat body 12 is provided with arms 152 similar to the arms 52 so that the child seat body 12 can be attached directly to the seat 20 without the base 18. A single wide arm similar to the arm 52 may also be used.

The above-mentioned embodiment can of course also be combined with the embodiment described above, so that the user can optionally use the base 18 (for example for longer trips) or can occasionally use the child seat without the base 18 (for example for special city trips).

In the present embodiment, the rod or bar 46 is provided on the connecting bottom plate 14 which forms part of the child seat main body 12, and the hook 56 and the operating part 60 are arranged on the base 18; however, the rod or bar 46 may conversely be provided on the base 18, while the hook 56 and the operating part 60 are located on or in the child seat main body 12 (for example, the connecting bottom plate 14).

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In the present invention, in the state in which the child seat main body 12 is mounted on the base 18, it is possible to disable the disengagement of the child seat 10 from the vehicle or the base 18. Figs. 9 and 10 show an embodiment structured as stated above, but wherein a projection part 41 as a part preventing the movement of the operating part 68 projects from the bottom or lower surface of the bottom plate 14 of the child seat main body 12. When the child seat main body 12 is mounted on the base 18, the projection part 41 enters the opening 96. Namely, the projection part 41 is then located between the operating part 68 and the front end of the opening 96, as shown in Fig. 10. As a result, the forward movement of the operating part 68 is blocked, thereby preventing a retracting movement of the claw part 78a of the hook 78. Accordingly, the disengagement of the hooks 78 from the clamping or fastening rods 74 is blocked.

As described above, in the child seat of the present invention, since the child seat main body and the base are formed separately, it is easy to put them in and take them out of the vehicle separately.

When performing the operation of attaching the base, since the child seat main body is separate from the base, this operation can be performed easily, relatively unhindered, simply and quickly.

The fluctuation prevention part can prevent the base from moving back and forth or floating, especially when the vehicle is driving through curves or on

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bumpy roads &ogr;.etc. Accordingly, the process of attaching the child seat main body to the base can be carried out extremely easily, quickly, relatively unhindered and uncomplicated.

Although the invention has been described and explained with reference to specific embodiments thereof, this description and explanation is illustrative and exemplary, and the invention is in no way limited thereto, but it can be modified and successfully carried out in many ways within the scope of the subject matter of the invention as represented by the claims and within the scope of the general inventive concept.

In summary, the invention provides a child seat comprising a child seat main body for holding a child and a base, the child seat main body having an engagement part and being detachably attachable to the base. The base has a connecting part to be connected to the vehicle and a fastening part engageable with an engagement part of the child seat main body. An engagement release part is installed in the base or the child seat main body for releasing the engagement between the fastening part and the engagement part. Since the base can be connected to the vehicle without the child seat main body, the child seat can be attached to the vehicle extremely simply, easily and quickly.

Claims (10)

1. Child seat, comprising:
a child seat main body ( 12 ) for holding or receiving a child, having an engagement portion ( 42 , 46 );
a base ( 18 ) on which the child seat main body ( 12 ) is detachably attachable or attached, the base ( 18 ) having a connecting part ( 52 , 78 ) to be connected to a vehicle, and a fastening part ( 56 , 58 , 60 ) which can be brought into engagement with the engagement part ( 42 , 46 ) of the child seat main body ( 12 ); and
an engagement release part ( 60 , 160 ) installed in the base ( 18 ) or in the child seat main body ( 12 ) for releasing or disengaging the engagement between the fastening part ( 56 , 58 , 66 ) and the engagement part ( 42 , 46 ). 2. A child seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening part is movable substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base ( 18 ) and comprises a hook ( 56 ) having an engagement position in which the hook ( 56 ) is engaged with the engagement part ( 46 ) and an engagement release or disengagement position in which the hook ( 56 ) is spaced from the engagement position, and a spring ( 142 ) for urging the hook ( 56 ) toward the engagement position. 3. A child seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the hook ( 56 ) is movable in the forward and backward direction of the base ( 18 ) and that the engagement release part ( 60 , 160 ) is connected to the hook ( 56 ) and has a front end located on or in the front surface of the base ( 18 ). 4. A child seat according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the child seat further comprises a fluctuation preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) or a floating movement preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) formed or arranged in or on a rear portion of the base ( 18 ) for preventing the base ( 18 ) from being moved floatingly back and forth by or on a seat ( 20 ) of the vehicle, the fluctuation preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) or the floating movement preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) being attached to the base ( 18 ) so as to be able to rotate in the forward and backward direction of the base ( 18 ) and having an abutment member ( 62 ) for abutting against a seat back ( 24 ), and a one-way coil or spring ( 110 ) to prevent the system part ( 62 ) from being rotated forwards. 5. A child seat according to claim 4, characterized in that the fluctuation preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) or the floating movement preventing member ( 62 , 100 ) further comprises a shaft ( 100 ) rotatably attached to the base ( 18 ) and immovably fixed to the abutment member ( 62 ), the one-way coil or spring ( 110 ) being wound on the shaft ( 100 ), and a lever ( 64 ) attached to the one-way coil or spring ( 110 ) for releasing the engagement of the one-way coil or spring ( 110 ) with the shaft ( 100 ). 6. Child seat according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base ( 18 ) further comprises an actuating part ( 68 ) connected to the connecting part ( 52 ) for releasing the engagement of the connecting part ( 52 ) with the vehicle. 7. Child seat according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized in that the child seat main part ( 12 ) further comprises a movement preventing part ( 41 ) which is engaged with the operating part ( 68 ) when the child seat main part ( 12 ) is mounted on the base ( 18 ), so that the operating part ( 68 ) is thereby prevented from moving in the direction of releasing the engagement of the connecting part ( 52 ). 8. Child seat according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting part comprises at least one arm ( 52 ) extending from the base ( 18 ) and having a hook ( 78 ) which is suitable for engaging a rod or bar ( 74 ) attached to the vehicle, the hook ( 78 ) being connected to the actuating part ( 68 ) for disengaging the hook ( 78 ) from the rod or bar ( 74 ), and preferably an indicating part ( 90 ) being connected to the arm ( 52 ) and extending to a front part of the base ( 18 ) such that the indicating part ( 90 , 190 ), when pressed and/or displaced by engagement of the hook with the rod or bar ( 74 ), is positioned in the indicating section ( 70 , 90 , 170 ) indicates the intervention status. 9. A child seat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the child seat main body ( 12 ) comprises a seat part ( 30 ) which enables the child to sit thereon, a backrest part ( 32 ) for supporting the back of the child, and a connecting plate ( 14 ) which is attached to the bottom of the main body ( 12 ) and has the engagement part ( 42 , 46 ). 10. Child seat according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 9, characterized in that the engagement part comprises a rod or a bar ( 46 ) and a flange ( 42 ), both of which engage or can be brought into engagement with the base ( 18 ).