Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/32—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles convertible for other use
  • B60N2/36—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles convertible for other use into a loading platform
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/90—Details or parts not otherwise provided for
  • B60N2/919—Positioning and locking mechanisms
  • B60N2002/952—Positioning and locking mechanisms characterised by details of the locking system
  • B60N2002/967—Positioning and locking mechanisms characterised by details of the locking system the locking system prevents tilt of whole seat by retaining and locking the seat in a vertical storage position
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
  • Y10T24/31—Plural fasteners having intermediate flaccid connector
  • Y10T24/314—Elastic connector

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for detachably fixating a first object, e.g. a foldable car seat in folded position, to a second object, e.g. a vehicle, the device comprising an elastic cord.
• the invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of such a device.
• a first object such as a folded car seat
• a second object such as a vehicle.
• a first object such as a folded car seat
• a second object such as a vehicle.
• 'SUN' 'sports utility vehicle'
• the fixation is done by means of a device comprising an elastic element or elastic cord.
• an elastic cord is generally composed of a bundle of elastic strands, covered by a sheath. The strands provide the elasticity to the cord, while the sheath determines the eventual strength of the cord.
• the elastic element or elastic cord should be connected to fastening means such as hooks or anchors.
• fastening means such as hooks or anchors.
• Several solutions are known for the connection between an elastic cord and a fastening means. Often a so-called hog ring is used, around which the end of the elastic cord is folded in a loop, optionally followed by insert moulding with a plastic.
• hog ring is used, around which the end of the elastic cord is folded in a loop, optionally followed by insert moulding with a plastic.
• such a connection is laborious and bulky. It is therefore relatively costly, it can only be manufactured by a skilled person using special tools, and it cannot be used when there is little space available.
• use is made of a tubular element which is 'shrunk' around the end of the elastic cord. Although less bulky, this type of connection is relatively expensive and laborious.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved solution for detachably fixating a first object, such as a folded seat, to a second object, such as a vehicle, which solution avoids the abovementioned drawbacks of devices and methods of the prior art.
• the invention provides a device of the type outlined in the preamble, characterised in that the elastic cord (4) is connected, at at least one position, to a fastening means (6,7) by means of at least one pin (5), which pin (5) at least partially pierces the elastic cord (4) and preferably has a diameter of at most several millimetres.
• a connection proves to be very strong.
• the elastic cord (4) cannot work itself loose like with the known devices. Extra parts such as a hog ring or a tubular element are not necessary. Consequently, the space taken up is minimal and the dimensions of the f- ⁇ stening means (6,7) can be kept as small as possible.
• the pin (5) is preferably produced from steel, for example steel with hardness 60+1-2 HRC, spring steel 55 SI 7 or Ck67, or high end machine steel 9 SMn Pb 28 K. Steel is strong, so large forces can be accomodated using a small diameter pin (5).
• the pin (5) may be cylindrical, a C-pin, a 'kerfpen' or even a common nail, if sufficiently strong.
• a pin (5) with a small diameter of several millimetres maximum can be put through the elastic cord (4) without damaging the strands.
• the elastic cord (4) can be reinforced, at the position of the connection with the fastening means (6,7), e.g. by means of an additional wrapping or a sheath. This further strengthens the connection.
• the fastening means (6,7) can comprise a hook (6), which e.g. can be attached to one of the supports of a headrest (9) in a vehicle (3).
• the fastening means (6,7) can also comprise an anchoring means (7) which e.g. can be mounted on the first object (2) or the second object (3).
• a second end of the elastic cord (4) can thus be connected to e.g. a foldable car seat (2).
• the anchoring means (7) can of course also be mounted elsewhere, e.g. on the second object, e.g. on the floor of a vehicle (3).
• the device also comprises a resilient structure (10), which works serially with the elastic cord (4) within a given range of tensile force, the resilient stiffness of the resilient structure (10) being substantially lower than the resilient stiffness of the elastic cord (4).
• Distending the assembly of elastic cord (4) and resilient structure (10) up to a certain total stretch can thus be done with relatively little effort, so the first part of tightening the elastic cord (4) is relatively easy.
• the final phase of the tightening can be done with a relatively large pulling force, so the fixated object is held in place with sufficient force.
• the device also comprises a deformable element (11), which deformable element (11) deforms if the tensile force in the elastic cord (4) exceeds a certain threshold value.
• the extent of the deformation of the deformable element (11) can depend on the value of the tensile force in the elastic cord (4).
• the deformation can be elastic or non-elastic.
• the deformable element (11) can thus absorb a part of the tensile force and (kinetic) energy, for example during strong braking or a collision, so the chance of overload of the elastic cord (4) and other parts (5,6,7) of the device decreases.
• the anchoring means (7), the resilient structure (10) and the deformable element (11) are produced integrally.
• the invention provides a method of the type mentioned in the preamble, characterised in that the elastic cord (4) is connected, at at least one position, to a fastening means (6,7) by at least partially piercing the elastic cord (4) with at least one pin (5), the pin (5) preferably having a diameter of at most several millimetres.
• a fastening means (6,7) by at least partially piercing the elastic cord (4) with at least one pin (5), the pin (5) preferably having a diameter of at most several millimetres.
• the elastic cord (4) can be cut to a desired length for a particular application and then be pierced with the pin (5).
• the elastic cord (4) can be reinforced, at the position of the connection with the fastening means (6,7), e.g. by an extra wrapping or a sheath.
• a hook (6) is used as a fastening means (6,7), which hook (6) can e.g. be attached to one of the supports of a headrest (9) in a vehicle.
• an anchoring means (7) can be used as a fastening means (6,7), which anchoring means (7) can be mounted e.g. on the first object (2) or the second object (3).
• the device is also taken up a resilient structure (10), which resilient structure
• a deformable element (11) is also included in the device, which deforms if the tensile force in the elastic cord (4) exceeds a certain threshold value.
• the deformable element (11) can be produced in such a way that the deformation of the deformable element
• the deformable element (11) depends on the value of the tensile force in the elastic cord (4). As stated previously, when the threshold value is exceeded, the deformable element (11) can thus accommodate a part of the tensile force and absorb (kinetic) energy. In case of permanent deformation it can later be deduced what was the maximum value of the tensile force.
• figure la a perspective view of a car seat in the folded position provided with a device according to the invention
• figure lb a perspective view of fixating the folded car seat
• figure 2 a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention
• figure 3 a resilient structure according to the invention
• figure 4a a view of an anchoring means integrated with a resilient structure according to the invention and a deformable element according to the invention
• figure 4b a partial cut-out view of said anchoring means
• figure 5 a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• Figure la shows a folded car seat (2) that has yet to be fixated in a vehicle (3) provided with a device according to the invention.
• Figure lb shows how a hook (6) connected to an elastic cord (4) is hooked around one of the supports of a headrest (9) in a vehicle (3).
• Figure 2 shows an elastic cord (4) that has been connected at both ends by means of a pin (5) to a hook (6) and an anchoring means (7) respectively.
• the anchoring means (7) can e.g. be mounted on a foldable seat (2).
• the thin pins (5) are simply put through the elastic cord (4) whereby the individual strands are not damaged.
• FIG 3 a resilient structure (10) according to the invention has been depicted.
• the resilient structure (10) has a substantially smaller resilient stiffness than that of the elastic cord (4).
• the elastic cord (4) is connected by means of a pin (5) to an end part (12) provided for this purpose, and thus also to an anchoring means (7).
• the assembly of elastic cord (4) and resilient structure (10) can now during application and tightening be stretched with a relatively small pulling force till the end part (12) hits the anchoring means (7). Then the total resilient stiffness equals the relatively large stiffness of the elastic cord (4), so the object involved can be tightly fixated.
• Figure 4 shows an anchoring means (7) integrated with a resilient structure (10) according to the invention and a deformable part (11) according to the invention.
• the tightening and stretching of the assembly of elastic cord (4) and resilient structure (10) will at first be relatively easy, until the pin (5) touches the deformable part (11). From then on the stretching will be more difficult and the object concerned can be fixated.
• the deformable part (11) in this embodiment being a weakening in the wall of the anchoring means (7), would be deformed.
• the deformable part (11) in this embodiment increases in diameter and therefore strength, in the direction of the tensile force.
• figure 5 represents an embodiment consisting of an elastic cord (4) connected at both ends to a hook (6).
• An end user could purchase the assembly in parts, and simply trim the elastic cord (4) to size by cutting it at the desired length.
• the elastic cord (4) trimmed to size can be connected by means of the pins (5) to the hooks (6), without special tools.
• an unskilled person can simply and quickly make a solid and reliable device for detachably fixating an object, as a made to measure solution for his own specific application.
• Applications for leisure or sports such as the fixation of a canoe or luggage on or in a vehicle, vessel or aircraft can be imagined.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32322550

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2002
  • 2002-11-16 NL NL1021937A patent/NL1021937C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-11-11 US US10/534,902 patent/US20070089278A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-11 AU AU2003279629A patent/AU2003279629A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-11 EP EP03772972A patent/EP1565343A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-11 WO PCT/NL2003/000793 patent/WO2004045899A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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