GB1575207A

GB1575207A - Safety seat

Info

Publication number: GB1575207A
Application number: GB1929676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WALL Ltd H
Current assignee: WALL Ltd H
Priority date: 1976-05-11
Filing date: 1976-05-11
Publication date: 1980-09-17
Also published as: FR2350983A1; DE2720954A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SAFETY SEAT (71) We, HOWARD WALL LIMITED, of 25 to 37, Hackney Road, London, E2 7PA, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to safety seats such as are used on road vehicles and particularly to such seats as are provided for children, and to safety seats to which belts and harnesses are fitted.

Safety seats for children, to which belts and harnesses may be fixed, are often portable units which have to be fixed securely to the back of a vehicle seat. Such seats cannot be easily or quickly removed from or fitted to a vehicle so they tend to become fixtures in a vehicle restricting the capacity of the vehicle when a child is not being carried.

The safety belts and harness associated with many prior proposed safety seats are provided with a quick release buckle which, when operated, separates the crutch strap and left and right hand units comprising waist and shoulder straps, so that after the buckle has been released the child is held in the seat until its arms have been extracted from the loops between the shoulder and waist straps.

The object of this invention is to provide a seat for a child which can be mounted in a vehicle and can be quickly and easily moved from a stowed position into the using position and from the using into the stowed position.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a seat for a road vehicle which includes a movable member or assembly, and means for retaining said member or assembly in two alternate positions, the movable member or assembly in one position defining part of a seat adapted to be occupied by an adult, and in the other position, defining a safty seat for a child, there being a safety belt or harness for the safety seat, a buckle for holding the belt or harness in place on the wearer, and additional means operated from one or more central points which, when operated, release the safety belt or harness.

Conveniently the movable member or assembly comprises a member which is hinged to the rest of the vehicle seat.

Advantageously the said movable member or assembly comprises a panel which can be removed from the vehicle seat, and replaced in a different orientation.

Preferably means are provided for- releasing the safety seat and/or safety belt or harness associated with the safety seat from the rest of said seat.

Conveniently safety belt or harness means associated with the safety seat are connected to a releasable connector and means are provided for operating the releasable connector from one or more points remote from the releasable connector.

Advantageously the releasable connector, when operated, releases all the strap ends of the safety belt or harness from the connector.

Preferably said movable member or assembly is held in at least one of said two positions by spring pressed catches.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a seat for a road vehicle comprising a bench, a removable panel in the bench, means for holding the removable panel in position in the bench, a child's seat attached to and forming part of a removable panel, a safety belt or harness for said child's seat, a buckle for holding the belt or harness in place on the wearer; and additional means operated from one control point, or from any one of a number of control points, which when operated, releases the seat and/or safety belt or harness from the vehicle.

This invention also relates to a road vehicle fitted with such a seat.

The invention is described hereinafier by way of example with reference to the accom panying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a vehicle bench seat with provision for safety seats according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the bench seat of Figure 1 with one child's seat in the operative position; Figure 3 shows part of the release mechanism for the seat of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows an alternative form of fitting for a child's safety seat with the child's seat stowed; Figure 5 shows the seat of Figure 4 in the using position, and Figure 6 shows one form of releasable connector that can be used with safety seats in accordance with the invention.

A rear bench seat for a motor vehicle is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bench seat having a back 10 and seat squab 11. The back has provision for two children's seats 12, the seats being illustrated in a stowed position' in .which the rear parts of the seats position in which the rear parts of the seats form part of the bench seat back 10.

With the children's safety seats 12 in this position the bench seat is virtually indistinguishable from a bench seat not provided with children's safety seats in accordance with the invention.

The seats 12 dre held in the illustrated position by projections 19 and 20 on the frame of the bench seat back 10, which pro jections ---engage suitable recesses in the sides of the children's seats. As shown the projections 19 are fixed and the projections 20 are spring ! pressed into their operative positions. The projections 20 are moved into their inoperative positions by downward movement of the associated release handle 13-or 14. The release handle 14 is connected to a rod 23, Figures 2 and 3, to which are attached arms 31 of bell crank levers 22. Each lever 22 is pivoted at 24 and its arm 32 is nonnected to the associated projection 20, which is pressed by spring 21- into the operative position. If the handle 13 is depressed, the bell crank levers 22 swing about pivots 24 and the projec tions 20.are moved against the action of springs 21 into the unlocking position.

Each child's seat 12 has a seat portion 16. and ahead rest 15 and is provided with .a harness 17 comprising two shoulder straps, two waist straps and a crutch strap, all connected to a quick release buckle 18. The quick release buckle could be arranged to release four - of the straps when operated, but it.-is preferred to arrange the buckle to separate the crutch strap and the right and left-, hand. pairs of shoulder and waist straps.

When a child is being seated in the seat, its .arms are passed through the loops between the. - shoulder and waist straps, and the pairs of strapS are joined to the quick release buckle carried on the crutch strap.

The ends of the five harness straps not connected to the quick release buckle are either fixed to the child's seat or are connected to a releasable connector ,as shown in Figure 6 referred to hereinafter, and located within the structure of the seat back 10.

As shown in Figure 6, each of the five harness strap ends 39 terminates in an eyelet hole 40, which could be pressed into the strap end or attached as a crimped-on lug.

The releasable connector, Figure 6, comprises a back plate 35, a spring 41, a release plate 42, a holding plate 45 and a cover 48, and an apertured bolt. Back plate 35 has a central aperture 36, five projections 37, to engage the eyelet holes 40, which could be pressed up from the plate 35, and fixing bolts 38 for holding the connector to a vehicle.

Spring 41 forces the release plate 42 away from the back plate 35 when the connector is released and pushes the eyelet holes 40 from projections 37. Spring 41 could be held to back plate 35 by . a suitable lug.

Release plate 42 has holes 43 corresponding to projections 37 and a central hold 44.

The edge 50 of the plate around the hole 44 is flanged to maintain a gap between the release plate 42 and the holding plate 45.

This gap prevents the ends 39 becoming trapped between the plates. The holding plate 45 has a central hollow projecting pin 46 with diametric base for release pin 51.

Release pin 51 is attached to rod 23. Figures 2 and 3, by a bell crank lever, not shown.

The apertured bolt has the head thereof engaged with the back plate 35 and the stem inserted in pin 46 so that the release pin can be inserted in the aperture of the bolt to retain the connector in the assembled condition.

Cover 48 has slots 49 to take strap ends 39. The cover is provided to ensure that sufficient space is available for the holding plate to move when the release pin 51 is withdrawn from the slot 47.

To assemble the connector, the release plate 42 is placed on the back plate 35, projections 37 passing through holes 43, the eyelet holes 40 on strap ends 39 are placed over projections 37, the holding plate 45 is placed in position, the central pin 46 passing through holes 44 and 36, the apertured bolt is located in position and the release pin 51 is pushed through slot 47. Cover 48 is placed in position with strap ends 39 passing -through gaps 49. In an emergency release, pin 51 is withdrawn from slot 47, spring 41 forces the release plate 42 and holding plate 45 from back plate 35 forcing the eyelets 40 from projections 37 to release strap ends 39 from the connector.

The strap are released only if the handle 14 is depressed into a position beyond that necessary to move projections 20 into the sent releasing position. This allows the seat to be moved from the stowed into the operative position and back into the stowed position without releasing the harness straps.

To bring the seat into the operative position, the associated handle 13 or 14 is depressed sufficiently to withdraw projections 20 from the recesses in the frame of the child's seat, the seat is unhooked from projections 19 and is turned over. The harness straps are sorted into their appropriate positions, the seat is slipped onto the fixed projections 19 and pressed back into the cavity in the bench seat until the spring pressed projections 20 lock into the appropriate recesses in the frame of the child's seat. The child can now be placed on the seat 16 and the harness fitted to the child as described above.

To release the child from the harness under usual conditions, the quick release buckle 18 is operated to release the waist and shoulder strap units from the crutch strap as described above so that the child's arms can be extracted from the loops and the child is lifted from the seat. To stow the seat, the associated release handle 13 or 14 is depressed to release the spring pressed projections 20 from the recesses in the frame of the child's seat, the seat is unhooked from the fixed projections 19, the seat is turned over and is replaced in the cavity in the bench. As shown, the seat is reversed and turned over for use, the top 15 of the child's seat being at the lower end when the seat is stowed, and the part of the seat which forms the head rest of the bench becoming the seat 16 of the child's seat, but this arrangement is not essential to the invention.

Should it be necessary to remove the child from the vehicle quickly, for example, if the vehicle should catch fire, the appropriate handle 13 or 14 is depressed. The seat can now be unhooked from projections 19 and the seat and child can be carried to safety. If the harness straps are connected to the child's seat, the harness keeps the child on the seat whilst the child and seat are removed. If the harness straps are connected to a releasable connector, the handle 13 or 14 is depressed to the strap releasing position to release the harness straps from the connector so that the child and harness can be removed from the vehicle, either with or without the child's seat.

A vehicle would normally be provided with two dummy panels in the back of the bench so that one or two child's seats could be provided as extras as required by the purchaser. The seats could be provided in different sizes for children of different ages, but it would be preferable to provide the seat for the largest child and to provide liners which could be fitted as required to allow the seat to be used by children of different sizes.

In the alternative form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the child's seat,instead of being detachable from the vehicle' bench, is hinged into the back of the bench as is normal for arm rests on such benches.

As shown in the Figures, the bench has back 25 and a seat part 26. The child's seat 27 is hinged into the back 25 and is -retained in the closed position by spring catch 33 engaging recess 34. To bring the seat into operative position, the handle 30 is raised to pull the catch 33 out of recess 34 so that the seat can be lowered into the position shown in Figure 5. The harness 28- and quick release buckle 29 are similar to the harness 17 and buckle 18 described above and the straps of the harness are connected at their ends remote from the quick release buckle to a releasable connector, for example that shown in Figure 6. If it is necessary to remove the child quickly from the vehicle, the handle 30 is depressed to release the harness straps from the releasable connector to allow the child and harness to be removed from the vehicle. In this embodiment, head rests for the child's seat could also be hinged into the back seat, and the back of the cavity could move forward as the child's seat is lowered to provide a firm back for the child's seat.

In either embodiment described above the child's seat could be arranged to rest on the surface of the bench seat.

As shown, the release handles 13 and 14 are each connected only to the seat adjacent the handle, but both handles can be arranged to operate both seats so that in an emergency the child and harness can be released from either side of the vehicle.

The release handles are shown as operating the release mechanism through rigid rods and bell crank levers. These could be replaced by flexible drive cables, such as Bowden cables. A single release handle is shown controlling both the release of the child's seat and the release of the harness strap ends. Separate handles could be provided for these two functions.

The invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments described above. For example, the seats shown in Figures 1 and 2 could be designed so that the top of the child's seat formed the top of the bench seat, the seat being turned about a vertical axis to bring it into and out of use instead of about a horizontal axis as described. The seat could be designed so that it turned about a rod, instead of being removed from the vehicle when turned, the rod moving in slots in the seat framework to allow the seat to be turned in the restricted space available. Two fixed and two movable projections are shown in Figure 2 to hold the child's seat, but more or less than two of each could be provided and all the projections could be made movable. A five strap harness with a quick release buckle is shown for the child's seat, but any other suitable form of harness or quick release buckle could be provided. The releasable connector described releases the strap ends from the connector. The release pin could be arranged to hold the connector to the vehicle structure so that when the pin is withdrawn, the connector is released from the vehicle structure to allow the harness and connector to be removed from the vehicle. With such an arrangement however the weight of the child is exerted on the release pin 51 and this might make removal of the pin difficult.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A seat for a road vehicle which includes a movable member or assembly, nd means for retaining said member or assembly in two alternate positions, the movable member or assembly in one position defining part of a seat adapted to be occupied by an adult, and in the other position, defining a safety seat for a child, there being a safety belt or harness for the safety seat, a buckle for holding the belt or harness in place on the wearer, and additional means operated from one or more central points which, when operated, release the safety belt or harness.

2. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable member or assembly comprises a member which is hinged to the rest of the vehicle seat.

3. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the said movable member or assembly comprises a panel which can be removed from the vehicle seat, and replaced in a different orientation.

4. A seat for a road vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the safety belt or harness associated with the safety seat are connected to releasable connector and means are provided for operating the releasable connector from one or more of said control points remote from the releasable connector.

5. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the releasable connector, when operated, releases all the strap ends of the safety belt or harness from the connector.

6. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said movable member or assembly is held in at least one of said two positions by spring pressed catches.

7. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claims which is provided with liners for the safety seat.

8. A seat for a road vehicle comprising a bench, a removable panel in the bench, means for holding the removable panel in position in the bench, a child's seat attached to and forming part of a removable panel, a safety belt or harness for said child's seat, a buckle for holding the belt or harness in place on the wearer, and additional means operated from one control point, or from any one of a number of control points, which, when operated, releases the seat and/ or safety belt or harness from the vehicle.

9. A seat for a road vehicle as claimed in any preceding claims substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A road vehicle fitted with a seat substantially as described and claimed in any preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. harness with a quick release buckle is shown for the child's seat, but any other suitable form of harness or quick release buckle could be provided. The releasable connector described releases the strap ends from the connector. The release pin could be arranged to hold the connector to the vehicle structure so that when the pin is withdrawn, the connector is released from the vehicle structure to allow the harness and connector to be removed from the vehicle. With such an arrangement however the weight of the child is exerted on the release pin 51 and this might make removal of the pin difficult. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A seat for a road vehicle which includes a movable member or assembly, ånd means for retaining said member or assembly in two alternate positions, the movable member or assembly in one position defining part of a seat adapted to be occupied by an adult, and in the other position, defining a safety seat for a child, there being a safety belt or harness for the safety seat, a buckle for holding the belt or harness in place on the wearer, and additional means operated from one or more central points which, when operated, release the safety belt or harness.