EP1937509A2

EP1937509A2 - Child safety seat

Info

Publication number: EP1937509A2
Application number: EP06779351A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Shaun Carine
Original assignee: Britax Excelsior Ltd
Current assignee: Britax Excelsior Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-08
Filing date: 2006-09-08
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Also published as: GB0518328D0; WO2007029010A2; WO2007029010A3; CA2621683A1

Abstract

A child safety seat and support are provided where a connector between the seat and the support allows the seat to pivot relative to the support to change the pitch of the seat. The connector may be locked in a chosen position thereby fixing the pitch of the seat. A further connector attaches the seat to the support and fixes the position of the seat relative to the support. The further connector may move in a linear fashion to accommodate the change in pitch. The seat can be connected to the support in a rearwards or forwards facing orientation.

Description

CHILD SAFETY SEAT

The present invention relates to a safety seat, and in particular to a child safety seat and an associated support for use in an vehicle.

In this regard, the Isofix standard specifies that newly-manufactured vehicles have seats which are provided with anchorage points such as hoops at the juncture of the backrest and seat bottom. These hoops can then be used to attach child safety seats. Seats using such anchorage points are well known.

It is also known to provide a support frame which attaches to the Isofix connections and onto which a seat is connected. Such frames may include a foot prop that engages the vehicle foot well to counter pivoting of the child seat during an accident. See, for example, WO-A-2005 108 155.

Moreover it is known to provide a child seat which releasably attaches to a support anchored to the vehicle, whereby the child seat can be installed on the support in either a rearward or forward facing orientations. This is disclosed, for example, in US-A-5 971 479.

However, such known child seat arrangements can be complex and prohibitively difficult to operate.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a child safety seat which alleviates the problems of known child seat arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising: -a seat member; a support; a first connector for releaseably connecting the support to an anchorage point within the vehicle; a second connector for connecting the seat member to the support, the second connector comprising a male/female type connection, with a male member being provided to one of the seat member and the support, and the female member being provided to the other of the seat and the support.

Preferably, the male and female member are interengagable to prevent separation, and may comprise a ball and socket type connector. Alternative configurations for the connector may be provided, such as barrel and sleeve profiles.

A ball and socket connection has the advantage of being robust, cheap and easy to operate. The connection allows rotation and translation of the child seat relative to the support thereby providing a degree of freedom of movement while retaining the secure connection. This allows the child seat to be adjusted to fit the requirements of an occupant of the seat.

Preferably, the second connector is movable with respect to the support. Conveniently, the second connector is mounted for linear movement in relation to the support member. In this manner, the orientation, inclination of the seat can be optimally adjusted.

Preferably, the support member is mountable for extending in use from a rear to a front portion of a vehicle seat cushion. Conveniently, the support member comprises an elongate track along which the second connector can move .

Such a track may provide a slidable connection between the seat member and the support. Preferably, the second connector is lockable in a plurality of positions along said track. This allows for a robust and secure anchoring of the seat member.

Conveniently, the support is coupled to the seat by way of a pivotal connector, the pivotal connector having a pivotal coupling with the seat for allowing pivotal movement of the seat for adjusting the seat's pitch. In this way, a preferred inclination of the seat can be readily achieved.

Preferably, said pivotal connector is lockable in any one of a plurality of rotational orientations, thereby fixing the pitch of the seat relative to the support.

Advantageously, if both types of connectors are locakable and are used in conjunction with one another, the position of the child seat relative to the support is redundantly fixed, providing increased safety over a single fixable connector.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for supporting a child seat in a vehicle, the support comprising a first connector for releasably connecting the support to an anchorage point within the vehicle, the support further comprising a pivotal connector for connecting the seat to the support, the pivotal connector having a pivotal coupling for allowing pivotal movement of the seat for adjusting the seat's pitch.

As used herein "pitch" of a child seat refers to an inclination or angle of the supporting portion of the child seat relative to the adult seat.

Preferably, a pair of pivotal connectors are provided, utilizing the same manner of releasable attachment to the seat so that the seat may be installed on the support in opposed orientations. If the connection at the two locations are interchangeable, the child seat can easily be changed from a forwards facing orientation to a rearwards facing orientation by swapping the two locations of the connector on the child seat. The seat can be permitted to pivot in either orientation.

Conveniently, said pivotal connectors are located on an axis about which said seat is rotatable when attached to the support. This axis is preferably located above a seating surface of a base seat part of the seat.

Preferably, the support further comprises a universal joint connection between the seat and the support. Preferably, the universal joint connection takes the form of a ball/socket connector.

Conveniently, the ball/socket connector is disposed for linear movement relative to the support and the ball/socket connector is preferably lockable in any one of a plurality of linearly disposed positions.

Conveniently, the first connector is adapted to attach to an Isofix fitting.

Preferably, the support further comprises a base for resting on a adult seat of the vehicle. Conveniently, the or each pivotal connector permits pivotal movement about an axis, said axis being substantially parallel to a plane defined by said base.

Preferably, said pivotal connectors comprise hubs. The hubs may each comprise a pair of discs, having interlockable teeth, one of the discs being associated with the seat and •— Q — the other with a link to the support, the discs being rotatable relative to one another when apart, but fixed rotationally when together.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety seat for attachment to a support secured within a vehicle, said safety seat comprising a pair of pivotal attachment means for attaching the seat to the support, wherein said pivotal attachment means defines an axis about which the seat may rotate when connected to the support.

Preferably, said pair of pivotal attachment means are adapted to engage with complementary connectors on said support, said connectors allowing pivotal movement of said seat about said axis and being lockable in a plurality of different rotational orientations so that the seat may be installed on the support in any one of a plurality of inclinations .

Conveniently, the seat further comprises a first support portion and a second support portion, wherein said first and second support portions are both adapted to act as either a back support or a seat support, depending on an orientation of the seat. The seat may then be altered from a forwards facing orientation to a rearwards facing orientation merely by pivoting the seat.

Preferably, the seat further comprises means for tethering an end of said safety seat to a vehicle.

The invention further encompasses a safety seat as described above adapted to attach to the support as described above . According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety system comprising: a seat having a seat support part and a back support part_/ first and second hubs, connected to the seat in the region of the junction of the seat support part and the back support part, said hubs being co-axial transversely of the seat; first and second links connectable to the respective hubs; a connector for attaching the seat to a vehicle, the connector being associated with the links; wherein the seat may be changed from a rearward facing orientation to a forward facing orientation by either disconnecting the links from their respective hubs and connecting each link to the other hub; or by pivoting each link about its respective hub.

Specific embodiments of the invention are hereinafter discussed by way of example with' reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention where a child safety seat is installed in an upright forwards orientation;

Figure 2 is an illustration of the embodiment of

Figure 1 where the pitch of the child seat has been altered;

Figure 3 is an illustration of the embodiment of

Figures 1 and 2 where the orientation of the child seat has been altered;

Figure 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a detail of connectors of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a support according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a bottom view illustrating a detail of a child seat according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a child safety seat according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates a child safety system 10 including a support 30 and a child safety seat 100. The support 30 rests on a cushion 12 of an adult seat 14 of a vehicle 16 (only partially illustrated) . The adult seat 14 is attached to the vehicle 16 by means of mountings 18. The adult seat 14 further includes a back rest 20. An Isofix attachment 22 is provided in a region of the adult seat where the cushion 12 meets the backrest 20.

The support 30 includes a base 32 and a foot prop 34. The support 30 further includes a connector 36 which attaches to the Isofix attachment 22 in a manner known in the art and anchors the support 30 to the adult seat 14. As the adult seat is attached to the vehicle 16, the connector 36 acts to anchor the support 30 to the vehicle 16.

The support 30 further includes a link 38 which is pivotally attached at one end to the base 32 at point 40. Arranged on a distal end of the link 38 is a pivoting connector in the form of a hub 42 which attaches to the child seat 100. As illustrated in Figure 6, the support 30 includes a second link 39 attached for pivotal movement about point 41 having part of hub 43 on the opposite side of the support 30 to link 38.

Referring back to Figure 1, the child seat 100 includes a spine 102. In the embodiment shown, the spine includes a plurality of inter-engaging elements 104 which allow the shape and length of the child seat 100 to be adjusted in the manner of an armadillo shell or a lobster tail carapace to provide adjustability in inclination. Although one type of child seat is illustrated, the invention is applicable to many kinds of child safety seat and the manner of their construction does not affect the operation of the invention. _ o _

A cushion 106 is attached to the spine 102 of the child safety seat 100. The cushion 106 includes a back rest portion 108 and a seat base or bottom portion 110. In use a child' s back will rest against the back rest portion 108 and

5 its bottom will rest on the bottom portion 110.

Two struts 112 and 114 (only one of which is visible in Figure 1) are attached to the spine 102 of the seat.

Mounted at the ends of the struts 112 and 114 is an

10 attachment means in the form of a hub 120 complimentary to the hub 42.

Referring to Figure 5, portions of the struts 112 and 114 are illustrated. Struts 112 and 114 are attached to hub 15 120 which is formed with a plurality of teeth 122. A hole 124 is formed in the centre of the hub 120.

Also illustrated in Figure 5 is a portion of the link 38 of the support 30. The link 38 has a hub 42 attached 20 thereto. Hub 42 includes a plurality of teeth 126 and a hole 128 formed therein.

Illustrated separately in Figure 5 is a joiner 150 comprising a threaded screw 152 and two threaded handles 154 25 and 156 mounted on the screw 152.

When the child seat 100 is attached to the support 30, one of the handles 154 or 156 is removed from the screw 152. The hole 124 of the child seat 100 is aligned with the

30 hole 128 of the link 38 of the support 30 and the screw 152 is fed through both holes 124 and 128 and the removed handle is again attached to the screw 152. If the handles 156 and 154 are partially tightened, the child seat 100 is able to pivot relative to the support 30, changing the pitch of the

35 child seat 100. Therefore, hub 42 provides a pivotal coupling - S - for attaching the child seat 100 to the support 30. However if either or both of the handles 154 and 156 are tightened, the teeth 122 of the hub 120 engage with the teeth 126 of hub 42, preventing movement of the child seat 100 relative to the support 30.

Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 8, the child seat includes an additional hub 130 attached to struts 132 and 134. The hub 130 is similar to the hub 120, using the same ^"means for attaching to the hub 41 of support 30 (Figure 6) . The hubs 120 and 130 are aligned so that an axis 140 through the centres of the hubs 120 and 130 describes an axis of rotation about which the child seat 100 pivots thereby altering the pitch of the child seat 100 relative to the support 30 when installed.

It will be realised that the arrangement of the hubs 120 and 130 of the support 30 and the hubs 42 and 43 of the child seat 100 are such that the child seat may be locked to the support in any one of a number of rotationally displaced orientations, thereby allowing the pitch of the seat to be fixed.

Although a particular form of attaching the child seat 100 to the support 30 has been illustrated and described, it is to be realised that many other forms of attachment are possible, provided that the attachment allows pivoting of the child seat relative to the support and can be locked in a chosen rotational displacement. Attachments which utilise frictional engagement would allow a greater degree of freedom in choosing the pitch of the child seat whereas a ratchet or other mechanical engagement may provide a safer form of attachment .

As the hubs 120 and 130 use the same manner of attaching the support 30 to the child seat 100, the child seat may be removed from the support, turned around and reattached so that hub 130 attaches to hub 42 and hub 120 attaches to hub 43. This allows the orientation of the child seat to be reversed, changing from a rearwards facing orientation to a forwards facing orientation (with reference to a direction of travel of the vehicle) or vice versa. This is illustrated in Figure 3 where the child seat 100 has been changed from a forward facing orientation to a rearward facing orientation.

Other forms of attachment having complementary attachment means provide the same functionality. A single attachment means which can accommodate the seat in either orientation may also be used (e.g., a hub centred over the child seat 100) .

Referring now to Figures 1 and 6, the support 30 includes a base 32 comprising a U-shaped rod 50 with a plurality of notches 52 formed therein. Mounted on the rod 50 is a block 54 which is disposed for linear movement in the direction of the arrow 56. A ball joint 58 is mounted on the block 54. The block 54 has two pins 60 and 62 which engage with the notches 52 formed in the rod 50. Springs 64 and 66 bias the respective pins 60 and 62 towards the rod 50.

To move the block 54 in the direction of the arrows 56, the pins 60 and 62 are pulled upwards (with reference to Figure 6) , against the action of the springs 64 and 66 thereby causing the pins 60 and 62 to disengage with the notches 52. Once the block 54 has been moved to the appropriate position, the pins 60 and 62 are released and again engage with the notches 52. In this manner, the position of the ball joint 58 may be altered relative to the connectors 36 which anchor the support to the vehicle 16. The rod 50 forms a track along which the block 54 including the ball joint 58 can move.

5 Figure 7 illustrates an underside of the child seat 100. A socket 70 is formed in the underside of the child seat 100 which accommodates the ball joint 58 of the support 30. Two links 72 and 74 are disposed in the child seat 100 for movement in the direction of respective arrows 76 and 10 78. Corresponding springs 80 and 82 bias the movement of the links 72 and 74, encouraging them towards the centre of the child seat 100.

As illustrated in Figure 7, each of the links 72 and 15 74 includes a respective lip 84 and 86 which extends over the socket 70. Each lip is formed with an arcuate bevel 88 and 90.

When the child seat is installed on the support 30,

20 the ball joint 58 is aligned with the socket 70 and a force is exerted on the child seat 100 in the direction of the support 30. The ball joint 58 will then engage with the bevels 88 and 90, forcing the links 72 and 74 away from the centre of the child seat 100. The ball joint 58 will then

25 pass into the socket and the springs 80 and 82 will move the links 72 and 74 back to the position shown in Figure 7, locking the ball joint 58 in the socket 70.

To remove the child seat 100 from the support 30, the

30 links 72 and 74 are provided with handles 92 and 94 which are used to move the links 72 and 74 away from the centre of the child seat ,100 thereby releasing the ball joint 58 from the socket 70.

35 The operation of the system 10 will now be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

To adjust a pitch of the child seat 100, the hubs 120 and 130 of the child seat are loosened and the pins 60 and 62 of the support 30 are moved upwards. An appropriate force is applied to the child seat causing it to move in the direction of arrow 160 illustrated in Figure 2. As the support 30 is stationary, this movement will cause the child seat to pivot about hubs 120 and 130 (about the axis 140 illustrated in Figure 8) altering the pitch of the seat. At the same time the links 38 and 39 will pivot about respective points 40 and 41 and the block 54 of the support 30 will move relative to the bar 50, also in the direction of the arrow 120.

As the links 38 and 39 pivot about respective points 40 and 41, the distance between the child seat 100 and the support 30 and the adult seat 14 is minimised.

Once the pitch of the child seat 100 is as desired, the pins 60 and 62 are released and movement of the block 54 is then constrained. As the child seat is connected to the block 54 by means of the ball joint 58 and socket 70, once the block 54 is locked, the pitch of the seat relative to the support 30 will be fixed. Therefore the ball joint 58 and socket 70 serve to connect the child seat 100 and support 30 and to lock the pitch of the child seat 100 in a chosen position.

The base 32 of the support 30 comprising the bar 50 describes a substantially horizontal plane. The links 38 and 39 are arranged so that the child seat 100 pivots about the axis 140 which is substantially parallel to the plane formed by the base 32, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 3 illustrates the child seat 100 in a reversed orientation relative to the support 30, as previously described. A tether 162 may connect a top of the child seat 100 to a top of the back rest 20 of the adult seat 14. This prevents unwanted movement of the child seat 100 in the event of an accident and acts as an additional safety feature.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment where like numerals are used to denote like features. A child seat

200 is mounted on a support 300. The child seat 200 has a cushion 206 attached to a spine 202. The cushion 206 includes a back rest portion 208 and a seat base or bottom portion 210. The back rest portion 208 and bottom portion 210 are formed so that either may support the back or bottom of the child. Therefore the child seat 200 can be changed from a rearward facing orientation to a forward facing orientation merely by pivoting the seat 200 about the corresponding hubs 342 and 343 (only one of which is illustrated in Figure 4) .

In this embodiment it is not necessary to provide a connection between the child seat 200 and the support 300 which is detachable to change the orientation of the seat.

Claims

1. A child seat for a vehicle comprising :- a seat member; a support; a first connector for releaseably connecting the support to an anchorage point within the vehicle, a second connector for connecting the seat member to the support, the second connector comprising a male/female type connection, with a male member being provided to one of the seat member and the support, and the female member being provided to the other of the seat and the support.

2. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein the male and female member interengage to prevent separation.

3. A child seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second connector comprises a ball and socket type connector.

4. A child seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second connector is movable with respect to the support.

5. A child seat according to any one of claims 1 to ^•4, wherein the second connector is mounted for linear movement in relation to the support member.

6. A child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member is mountable for extending in use from a rear to a front portion of a vehicle' seat cushion.

7. A child seat according to claim 6, wherein the support member comprises an elongate track along which the second connector can move.

8. A child seat according to claim 7, wherein the second connector is lockable in a plurality of positions along said track.

9. A child seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the support is coupled to the seat by way of a pivotal connector, the pivotal connector having a pivotal coupling with the seat for allowing pivotal movement of the seat for adjusting the seat's pitch.

10. A child seat according to claim 9, wherein said pivotal connector is lockable in any one of a plurality of rotational orientations, thereby fixing the pitch of the seat relative to the support.

11. A support for supporting a child seat in a vehicle, the support comprising a first connector for releasably connecting the support to an anchorage point within the vehicle, the support further comprising a pivotal connector for connecting the seat to the support, the pivotal connector having a pivotal coupling for allowing pivotal movement of the seat for adjusting the seat's pitch.

12. A support according to claim 11, wherein a pair of pivotal connectors are provided, utilizing the same manner of releasable attachment to the seat so that the seat may be installed in the support in one opposed orientations.

13. A support according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said pivotal connectors are be located on an axis about which said seat is rotatable when attached to the support .

14. A support according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a ball/socket connector between the seat and the support.

15. A support according to claim 14, wherein the ball/socket connector is disposed for linear movement relative to the support.

16. A support according to claim 15, wherein the ball/socket connector is lockable in any one of a plurality of linearly disposed positions.

17. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the first connector is adapted to attach to an Isofix fitting.

18. A support according to any one of claims 11 to 17, further comprising a base for resting on a adult seat of the vehicle.

19. A support according to claim 18, wherein the or each pivotal connector permits pivotal movement about an axis, said axis being substantially parallel to a plane defined by said base.

20. A support according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein said pivotal connectors comprise hubs.

21. A child safety seat for attachment to a support secured to a vehicle, said safety seat comprising a pair of pivotal attachment means for attaching the seat to the support, wherein said pivotal attachment means define an axis about which the seat may rotate when connected to the support.

22. A safety seat according to claim 21, wherein said pair of pivotal attachment means are adapted to engage with complementary connectors on said support, said connectors allowing pivotal movement of said seat about said axis and being lockable in a plurality of different rotational orientations so that the seat may be installed on the support in any one of a plurality of inclinations.

23. A safety seat according to claim 21 or 22, further comprising a first support portion and a second support portion, wherein said first and second support portions are both adapted to act as either a back support or a seat support, depending on an orientation of the seat.

24. A safety seat according to any one of claims 21 to 23, further comprising means for tethering an end of said safety seat to a vehicle.

25. A safety seat of any one of claims 21 to 24 adapted to attach to the support of any one of claims 11 to

20.

26. A safety system comprising a seat according to any one of claims 21 to 24 and a support according to any one of claims 11 to 20.

27. A safety system comprising: a seat having a seat support part and a back support part; first and second hubs, connected to the seat in the region of the junction of the seat support part and the back support part, said hubs being co-axial transversely of the seat; first and second links connectable to the respective hubs; a connector for attaching the seat to a vehicle, the connector being associated with the links; wherein the seat may be changed from a rearward facing orientation to a forward facing orientation by either disconnecting the links from their respective hubs and connecting each link to the other hub; or by pivoting each link about its respective hub.