GB1591901A

GB1591901A - Assembly of a child's car seat and a vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: GB1591901A
Application number: GB3684177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-09-02
Filing date: 1977-09-02
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: FR2363305B1; CH618648A5; DE2738787A1; IT1084195B; BE858330A; FR2363305A1

Description

(54) AN ASSEMBLY OF A CHILD'S CAR SEAT AND A VEHICLE SEAT (71) We, MICHAEL MONOT, a French citizen of Le Bois des Grottes, Asnieresles-Dijon, F21380-Messigny, France and HUBERT MONOT, a French citizen of Le Bois des Grottes, Asnieres-les-Dijon, F21380-Messigny, Franoe, 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 fol lowing statement: The invention relates to an assembly of a child's car seat and a vehicle seat.

The problem of the safety of very young children in cars has led public authorities to draw-up statutory rules regarding the position which children should occupy in a vehicle, in particular prohibiting them from travelling on the front seats.

Numerous "car seats" have been made available to the public, both to satisfy the obligations dictated by the highway code as well as to ensure the parents' peace of mind.

The various types of known car seats all have the same drawback in common: they must be secured to the rear seat of the car and occupy on the latter virtually the space taken up by a passenger, thus reducing the carrying capacity of the vehicle.

In addition, since the back of the rear seat is frequently connected to the chassis in a somewhat precarious manner, in particular when it is able to be folded down, it is generally necessary to provide a strap securely anchored to the floor, behind the back of the seat in order to prevent the child from being thrown against the back of the front seat at the time of even only relatively fierce braking.

The object of the invention therefore consists of providing a device making it possible to prevent the child from being thrown forwards in the case of sudden deceleration, starting by reducing the well flnown "whip-lash effect" on motorists involved in an accident, by bringing the seat on which the child is sat closer to the obstacle on the one hand and by placing the child such that he is virtually in contact with the back of the front seat over the major part of his body, on the other hand. Finally, it is necessary that a device of this type allows the child to virtually stand, naturally if he is old enough, in order to prevent fractures of the pelvis which may occur if he is involved in an accident in the sitting position.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly of a child's car seat and a vehicle seat, said assembly comprising a height-adjustable frame supporting a child's car seat having a back portion with a head support, a seat portion, a foot-rest and adjustable-length armrests, and attachment means attaching the frame to the back of the vehicle seat, the arrangement being such that the arm-rests abut the back of the vehicle seat so as to determine the spacing between the back portion of the child's car seat and the back of the vehicle seat.

The main advantages provided by the assembly according to the invention may be listed as follows: - the child's safety is increased since the seat is adapted to his stature, the closeness of a shield constituted by the back of the front seat makes it possible for him to have a virtually upright position such that in the case of an impact he is thrown forward flat on his stomach; - the rear space, normally occupied by a car seat of known type is thus freed since a passenger may sit with his legs under the child's seat whereof the vertical position can be adjusted for this purpose; - the child is easily accessible from the front seats, which will make it easier to maintain his good temper, all the more so since he is able to look at the countryside more easily than from the rear seat.

Further advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment and from the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an assembly according to the invention; Figure la is a variation of figure 1; Figure 2 is an elevational and partial sectional view of the stand or frame assem- bly shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of assembly according to the invention.

Figure l shows one embodiment of the assembly according to the invention com & prising a seat body 1 comprising a bottom la, a back 2 provided with a head support 3, adjustable length arm-rests 5 and a footrest 5.

The seat body is mounted so that its height can be adjusted by means of a hcight-adjustable stand or frame 6, which is retained in position between the front seat 7 and rear seat 8 of the car by attach mcnt means for engaging the back 9 of the front seat 7.

The minimum spacing that can be achieved between the backs 2 and 9 is determined by the minimum length of the adjustable arm-rcsts 4 of the seat 1 which are preferably connected by a transverse bar (not shown) whose purpose is to increase the contact surface with t'ne back 9, whilst making it easicr to keep the child in the seat 1.

The attachment means are constituted by at least one strap 10 passing around the back 9.

lf the car comprises a front bench seat 7, the strap can be arranged to pass vertically, around the top and the bottom of the back 9.

if the car comprises separate front seats, the strap 10 will be arranged horizontally around the back 9 of one of the front seats 7.

Figure 2 shows the height-adjustable frame 6 on which the seat body is mounted.

lt comprises an upper member 11 which supports the seat body and which member 11 is slidably mounted in a lower member 12 that is provided with a horizontally turned base 13. The base 13 is not located in the same plane as members 11 and 12 and is formed to rest on the floor 14 of the car.

A bar 15 constituted by a screw-threaded rod 16, provided with a head 17 and a nut 18 and sheathed by a tube 19, interconnects the sides of the members 11 and 12.

The bar 15 can be connected to the members 11 and 12 at various levels which makes it possible to adjust the height of the seat body with respect to the floor 14, since the base of the seat body is joined to and rests on the bar 15.

The height H existing between the bar 15 and the floor 14 is sufficient to leave room for the knees of a passenger sitting on the rear seat 8 and the width L, which is also adjustable, allows said passenger to position his legs between the sides of the member 12.

In another embodiment (not shown) the width L is sufficient so that it is possible to locate two seats 1 or a bench seat which is sufficiently wide to seat two children sideby-side.

Figure ici shows a modification in which the base 13' is also connected to the bench 2 of the seat body, sufficient space being left for the child's knees between the back 9 and the edge of the bottom la.

The purpose of this construction is to clear the seat 1 from overhanging the rear seat 8 completely.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment in which the seat body is provided with a frame 6 which does not have a horizontally turned base 13 in order to facilitate inclination of the back 9 in order to make it easier for a child sitting in the seat 1 to sleep.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 also incorporates certain arrangements which may also be incorporated in the Figures 1 ad la the embodiment, in particular: as well as the arm rests 4 which are of adjustable length, an arrangement whereby the drop of the foot-rest 5 can be varied to alter the distance between the seat bottom la and the foot-rests dependent on the length of the child's legs in order that his position is as close as possible to a standing position. To this end, the depth of the bottom la is reduced to the maximum extent compatible with the necessary comfort, shock absorbing means being located on the foot-rest, in the form either of a flexible suspension for the latter, or of a thick layer 20 of elastic foam such that in the case of an impact, the child is able to extend his legs and is positioned with his stomach flat against the back 9; - a protective shield 21 located between the back 9 and the arm-rests 4, covered with a thick layer of elastic foam intended for the effective cushioning of the child's body if the latter should be thrown against the back 9; protective pads for a passenger in the rear seat, located one at 22 at the bottom of the back 2 over its entire width, another 23 on the rear of the back 2 and a third 24 at the top on the back of head-rest 3; - angle irons 25, 26 for reinforcing the corners of the frame 6 in the region of the bottom la and foot-rest 5 respectively; - the device for adjusting the distance between the back 2 and 9 may comprise of telescopic connections in the region of the arm-rests 4 and foot-rest 5 fixed by bolts provided with wing nuts 27, 28; and - sides (not shown) which would surround the child to improve the safety of a very small child even further.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An assembly of a child's car seat and

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. sectional view of the stand or frame assem- bly shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of assembly according to the invention. Figure l shows one embodiment of the assembly according to the invention com & prising a seat body 1 comprising a bottom la, a back 2 provided with a head support 3, adjustable length arm-rests 5 and a footrest 5. The seat body is mounted so that its height can be adjusted by means of a hcight-adjustable stand or frame 6, which is retained in position between the front seat 7 and rear seat 8 of the car by attach mcnt means for engaging the back 9 of the front seat 7. The minimum spacing that can be achieved between the backs 2 and 9 is determined by the minimum length of the adjustable arm-rcsts 4 of the seat 1 which are preferably connected by a transverse bar (not shown) whose purpose is to increase the contact surface with t'ne back 9, whilst making it easicr to keep the child in the seat 1. The attachment means are constituted by at least one strap 10 passing around the back 9. lf the car comprises a front bench seat 7, the strap can be arranged to pass vertically, around the top and the bottom of the back 9. if the car comprises separate front seats, the strap 10 will be arranged horizontally around the back 9 of one of the front seats 7. Figure 2 shows the height-adjustable frame 6 on which the seat body is mounted. lt comprises an upper member 11 which supports the seat body and which member 11 is slidably mounted in a lower member 12 that is provided with a horizontally turned base 13. The base 13 is not located in the same plane as members 11 and 12 and is formed to rest on the floor 14 of the car. A bar 15 constituted by a screw-threaded rod 16, provided with a head 17 and a nut 18 and sheathed by a tube 19, interconnects the sides of the members 11 and 12. The bar 15 can be connected to the members 11 and 12 at various levels which makes it possible to adjust the height of the seat body with respect to the floor 14, since the base of the seat body is joined to and rests on the bar 15. The height H existing between the bar 15 and the floor 14 is sufficient to leave room for the knees of a passenger sitting on the rear seat 8 and the width L, which is also adjustable, allows said passenger to position his legs between the sides of the member 12. In another embodiment (not shown) the width L is sufficient so that it is possible to locate two seats 1 or a bench seat which is sufficiently wide to seat two children sideby-side. Figure ici shows a modification in which the base 13' is also connected to the bench 2 of the seat body, sufficient space being left for the child's knees between the back 9 and the edge of the bottom la. The purpose of this construction is to clear the seat 1 from overhanging the rear seat 8 completely. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment in which the seat body is provided with a frame 6 which does not have a horizontally turned base 13 in order to facilitate inclination of the back 9 in order to make it easier for a child sitting in the seat 1 to sleep. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 also incorporates certain arrangements which may also be incorporated in the Figures 1 ad la the embodiment, in particular: as well as the arm rests 4 which are of adjustable length, an arrangement whereby the drop of the foot-rest 5 can be varied to alter the distance between the seat bottom la and the foot-rests dependent on the length of the child's legs in order that his position is as close as possible to a standing position. To this end, the depth of the bottom la is reduced to the maximum extent compatible with the necessary comfort, shock absorbing means being located on the foot-rest, in the form either of a flexible suspension for the latter, or of a thick layer 20 of elastic foam such that in the case of an impact, the child is able to extend his legs and is positioned with his stomach flat against the back 9; - a protective shield 21 located between the back 9 and the arm-rests 4, covered with a thick layer of elastic foam intended for the effective cushioning of the child's body if the latter should be thrown against the back 9; protective pads for a passenger in the rear seat, located one at 22 at the bottom of the back 2 over its entire width, another 23 on the rear of the back 2 and a third 24 at the top on the back of head-rest 3; - angle irons 25, 26 for reinforcing the corners of the frame 6 in the region of the bottom la and foot-rest 5 respectively; - the device for adjusting the distance between the back 2 and 9 may comprise of telescopic connections in the region of the arm-rests 4 and foot-rest 5 fixed by bolts provided with wing nuts 27, 28; and - sides (not shown) which would surround the child to improve the safety of a very small child even further. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An assembly of a child's car seat and

a vehicle seat, said assembly comprising a height-adjustable frame supporting a child's car seat having a back portion with a head support, a seat portion, a foot-rest and adjustable length arm-rests, and attachment means attaching the frame to the back of the vehicle seat, the arrangement being such that the arm-rests abut the back of the vehicle seat so as to determine the spacing between the back portion of the child's car seat and the back of the vehicle seat.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said attachment means are constituted by at least one strap arranged vertically around said back of the vehicle seat.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said attachment means are constituted by at least one strap arranged horizontally around said back of the vehicle seat.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the width of the frame is adjustable in order to accommodate a second similar child's seat to enable two children side-by-side to be seated.

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the frame is provided with a base for resting on the floor of the vehicle, which base lies out of the plane of the stand.

6. As assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the base of the frame is connected to the back portion of the child's seat.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the footrest comprises a shock-absorber device.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the footrest is fixed to the frame by two angle irons arranged on each side of a platform on which the child's feet rest.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the part of the frame supporting the seat portion of the child's seat is reinforced at its corners by angle irons.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the part of the frame where the base of the seat portion of the child's seat and the bottom of the back portion join is covered by a protective pad in order, in use, to prevent injury to the knees of a passenger in a further seat of the vehicle behind said vehicle seat.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the headsupport is provided with a protective pad for disposition, in use, adjacent a passenger in a further seat of the vehicle behind said vehicle seat.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the back portion of the child's seat is provided with at least one protective pad for disposition, in use, adjacent a passenger in a further seat of the vehicle behind said vehicle seat.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the child's seat has sides for surrounding the child.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a shockabsorbing shield is located between the back of the vehicle seat and the child's seat.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the frame comprises a pair of members, one being slidably mounted on the other, and a bar which interconnects the members and to which the child's seat portion is connected so that the height of the child's seat above the floor can be adjusted.

16. An assembly of a child's car seat and a vehicle seat, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.