EP1805059A2

EP1805059A2 - Improvements in or relating to child seats

Info

Publication number: EP1805059A2
Application number: EP05791053A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Derrick Barker
Original assignee: Equipbaby UK Ltd
Current assignee: Equipbaby UK Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-15
Filing date: 2005-09-15
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: EP1799501A1; WO2006030246A1; GB0420589D0; WO2006030245A2; WO2006030245A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to child seats. In particular, it relates to child seats for use in vehicles such as cars. More particularly, it relates to child seats having a seat surface adjustable between comparatively upright and reclined configurations. We describe a child seat apparatus comprising a seat base unit (11) and a seat surface unit (12), wherein the seat surface unit comprises a first seat surface element (14) and a second seat surface element (13) pivotally joined thereto, wherein the first seat surface element has an upper edge (20) pivotally joined to the seat base unit.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CHILD SEATS

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to child seats. In particular, it relates to child seats adaptable for use in vehicles such as cars. More particularly, it relates to an adjustable child seat surface, convertible between comparatively upright and reclined sitting positions. The upright configuration is typically used for in-car travel and the included configuration used for a sleeping child.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a child seat apparatus comprising a seat base unit and a seat surface unit, wherein the seat surface unit comprises a first seat surface element and a second seat surface element pivotally joined thereto, wherein the first seat surface element has an upper edge pivotally joined to the seat base unit.

Preferably, the second seat surface element is retained for sliding movement within a portion of the seat base unit.

Preferably, the first seat surface element forms a back rest portion of the seat apparatus and the second seat surface element forms a seat of the seat apparatus.

Preferably, the seat apparatus further comprises an adjustment mechanism to adjust an inclination of the first seat surface with respect to the seat base unit.

Preferably, the first and second seat surface elements are pivotally joined about an intermediate hinge and the adjustment mechanism acts on the hinge to cause the said adjustment. More preferably, the adjustment mechanism is adapted to bear against the hinge.

Preferably, the seat apparatus further comprises a carrying handle. More preferably, the carrying handle comprises a bearing surface forming the adjustment mechanism. Even more preferably, the bearing surface comprises a cam surface. Preferably, the seat apparatus includes at least one seat belt retaining element adapted to engage a seat belt in a vehicle in which the apparatus is intended to be used. More preferably, the at least one seat belt retaining element is provided on a rear surface of the first seat surface element. Even more preferably, the first seat surface is moveable between a first position in which the surface is comparatively upright and the at least one seat belt engaging element projects from the seat base unit and a second position in which the surface is comparatively inclined and the at least one seat belt engaging element is retracted within the seat base unit.

Preferably, the base unit includes a seat belt guide adapted to receive the seat belt of the vehicle. Preferably, the seat belt guide comprises at least two seat belt engaging elements, respectively located at left and right sides of the seat assembly and towards the rear end of the seat base unit as defined by the end closest to the back support of the vehicle seat when the seat is positioned for use.

Preferably, the seat belt engaging elements are mounted on a rear surface of the first seat surface element. By this, the seat belt engaging elements are retractable within the seat assembly when the seat handle is moved to the inclined position. As a result, the apparatus prevented from being strapped into a vehicle until the seat surface unit has been moved to the more upright configuration.

Preferably, the seat back and seat base assembly further comprises a 3 -point or 5- point harness assembly.

Preferably, the adjustment mechanism also provides a tension adjustment function for adjusting the tension of the harness assembly.

Preferably, the tension adjustment function includes a belt bearing surface which, in operation, bears against a portion of the harness assembly. The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a first sectional side view of an embodiment of a child seat in accordance with the present invention and in a car seat configuration;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the seat surface raised to a generally flat surface for use in a stroller or in the home;

Figure 3 is a first sectional side view illustrating the child harness and the handle in a configuration for carrying and in which the harness is slack; and

Figure 4 is a first sectional side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 wherein the child harness is tensioned.

The present invention relates to a car seat suitable for infants. The car seat has an adjustable seating surface convertible from a conventional generally upright seat configuration for safe travel in a vehicle to a more reclined surface for use on a stroller chassis in the home, or otherwise out and about.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a child safety car seat 10 having a seat base unit 11, a seat surface 12, comprising a first seat surface element in the form of a back rest 14 and a second seat surface element in the form of a seat portion 13, and a carrying handle 15 pivotally mounted on left and right sides of the car seat. Handle 15 provides a generally inverted U-shaped carrying handle across the seat surface 12. Back rest 14 is pivotally attached, along an upper edge thereof, to an upper portion of seat base unit 11. In the embodiment shown, the pivotal attachment is by means of axial pins on the back rest 14 engaging corresponding sockets 20 formed in the seat base, although alternative constructions such as hinges may also be used. Seat portion 13 and back rest 14 are connected to each other by means of a pivotal joint (not shown). The base unit 11 further comprises elongate slots 21 at right and left sides thereof and towards the front edge of the car seat 10, defined as the edge closest to the child's feet in normal use. Complementary slide members 22, located at right and left sides adjacent the front edge of seat portion 13 locate in elongate slots 21 to enable lateral sliding of the seat portion 13 relative to the seat base unit 11. In alternative constructions (not shown), elongate slots are located on the seat portion and corresponding complementary slide members on the seat base unit. The elongate slots of the illustrated embodiment are substantially horizontal, but it will be recognised that they could also be inclined.

Handle 15 further includes a cam element 23 circurnferentially formed at the ends of the inverted U-shape of the handle and connected with seat base unit 11. The circumference of cam element 23 comprises minor and major ridges 24 and 25 respectively, for abutment and rotational engagement with corresponding flanges 30 located on right and left sides of seat portion 13 and adjacent the point of the connection between the seat portion 13 and back rest 14. In the embodiment shown, a pivotal joint (not shown) connects seat portion 13 with back rest 14, and flanges 30 are formed as part of the pivotal joint.

In Figure 1 the seat is configured for use as a rearward-facing child safety car seat with handle 15 positioned towards the front end of the car seat as defined by the end at which a child's feet will be in normal use. As illustrated, in this configuration flange 30 abuts minor ridge 24 to positively lock the seat in a car seat configuration, and slide members 22 locate towards the extreme ends of elongate slots 21 which are closest to handle 15. Additionally, seat belt engaging elements 31 are fixed to the underside of back rest 14 and pass through respective slots in the back of seat base unit 11.

In use, handle 15 is rotated to a stowed position, towards back rest 14 and flanges 30 slidably rotate along the circumference of cam element 23, from minor ridge 24 to major ridge 25. Consequently flanges 30 are raised relative to the base unit 11 and the angle at the pivotal joint formed between back rest 14 and seat portion 13 is increased, leading to a flattening of the seat surface 12. As a result, the seat surface moves laterally due to the slide members 22 of seat portion 13 sliding in elongate slots 21. The height of seat portion 13 at the point of connection generally remains constant throughout the adjustment, and the region of seat portion 13 which is connected to back rest 14 moves upwards to effect the change in the seat configuration. This movement results in an overall flattening of the seat surface 12. In alternative constructions in which the elongate slots slope upwards or downwards (not shown), the height of the seat portion will also change relative to the seat base unit when the handle is rotated.

Additionally, the reclining or flattening of the seat surface 12 leads to the retraction of seat belt engaging elements 31 into the seat cavity between the seat surface 12 and base unit 11. Retraction of the seat belt engaging elements provides a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, its principal function is to ensure that the seat cannot be installed in a vehicle whilst the seat is in a reclined configuration. Only once the seat portions have been returned to the more upright travelling configuration are the belt engaging elements available for use. This carrying configuration is illustrated in Figure 2.

Seat 10 is further provided with a child harness assembly including webbing 32 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The harness webbing 32 is anchored to seat portion 13, and passes through a slot in back rest 14, along the underside of seat surface 12, over the apex of major ridge 25 and to a second anchor point on the underside of seat surface 12. In alternative constructions the second anchor point will be situated on seat base unit 11.

In the handle 15 arrangement seen in Figure 3, the apex of major ridge 25 is in a neutral position relative to the harness webbing 32 on the underside of seat surface 12. When handle 15 is rotated to a configuration suitable for use as a car seat, as seen in Figures 1 and 4, the apex of major ridge engages with harness webbing 32 to provide a tensioning effect. Subsequent rotation of the handle to the stowed position illustrated in Figure 2 or a position suitable for carrying seen in Figure 3, removes the tension in the harness. When in the carrying configuration, the harness tension is relaxed, allowing a greater degree of movement for the child.

The following statements describe certain preferred features and characteristics of some embodiments of the present invention:

a seat structure incorporating an adjustable seat surface made up of two or more sections; and

a back part which is pivotally mounted at the top of the seat; and

a base part which is joined to the back part and pivotally mounted to the front seat within a slot; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the seat structure which includes cam forms which act to raise and lower the combined back part and base part when the handle is rotated; and

the cam element of the handle can also act on the lower part of a child harness to make the harness tight when the handle is in the forward position for safe travel in a vehicle.

Claims

Claims.

1. A child seat apparatus comprising a seat base unit and a seat surface unit, wherein the seat surface unit comprises a first seat surface element and a second seat surface element pivotally joined thereto, wherein the first seat surface element has an upper edge pivotally joined to the seat base unit.

2. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the second seat surface element is retained for sliding movement within a portion of the seat base unit.

3. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first seat surface element forms a back rest portion of the seat apparatus and the second seat surface element forms a seat of the seat apparatus.

4. A seat as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the seat apparatus further comprises an adjustment mechanism to adjust an inclination of the first seat surface with respect to the seat base unit.

5. A seat as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first and second seat surface elements are pivotally joined about an intermediate hinge and the adjustment mechanism acts on the hinge to cause the said adjustment.

6. A seat as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to bear against the hinge.

7. A seat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat apparatus further comprises a carrying handle.

8. A seat as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the carrying handle comprises a bearing surface forming the adjustment mechanism.

9. A seat as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the bearing surface comprises a cam surface.

10. A seat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat apparatus includes at least one seat belt retaining element adapted to engage a seat belt in a vehicle in which the apparatus is intended to be used.

11. A seat as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the at least one seat belt retaining element is provided on a rear surface of the first seat surface element.

12. A seat as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the first seat surface is moveable between a first position in which the surface is comparatively upright and the at least one seat belt engaging element projects from the seat base unit and a second position in which the surface is comparatively inclined and the at least one seat belt engaging element is retracted within the seat base unit.

13. A seat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base unit includes a seat belt guide adapted to receive the seat belt of the vehicle.

14. A seat as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the seat belt guide comprises at least two seat belt engaging elements, respectively located at left and right sides of the seat assembly and towards the rear end of the seat base unit as defined by the end closest to the back support of the vehicle seat when the seat is positioned for use.

15. A seat as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the seat belt engaging elements are mounted on a rear surface of the first seat surface element.

16 A seat as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a harness assembly and wherein the adjustment mechanism also provides a tension adjustment function for adjusting the tension of the harness assembly. 17. A seat as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the tension adjustment function includes a belt bearing surface which, in operation, bears against a portion of the harness assembly.