GB2427130A

GB2427130A - Vehicle seat with detachable child seat

Info

Publication number: GB2427130A
Application number: GB0613394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Allen
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-06
Filing date: 2005-05-05
Publication date: 2006-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-05
Also published as: GB2413761A; GB0613394D0; GB2413761B; GB0509098D0; GB2427130B; GB0410131D0; WO2005108153A3; WO2005108153A2; EP1761410A2

Abstract

A child vehicle seat assembly (32) includes seat base or squab (36) and a backrest (38). The child seat is releasably connected to an (adult) vehicle seat (10) via a pair of spaced connecting means (40, 42) that may be ISOFIX connections. The child seat has a handle (50) that may be used as a carrying handle. The handle is connected via a linkage or coupling means, which may be pivots and rods, so that as the handle is pivoted about a first pivot (54). The handle may act on a said coupling means to release or connect the child seat from or to the adult seat. The handle may have a second pivot point (52) and a locking means, see figures 6 and 7, to prevent movement of the handle with respect to the seat back (38). The child seat may be stored in the seat squab of the main seat (10) see also figure 2.

Description

VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to a seat assembly for use in a vehicle, and in particular to a seat assembly which is adaptable for use by a child and for use by children of different ages and/or size. The invention also relates to a vehicle fitted with such a seat assembly.

For babies and very young children, typically up to the age of 18 months, it is recommended for a child seat to be arranged in a rear-facing direction to the direction of travel. As a child gets older, he or she may become too large to carry in a rear-facing seat position and so it is necessary to provide a different seat, or at least to change the position of the seat from a rear-facing position to a front- facing position. One problem facing vehicle manufacturers, therefore, is the adaptability of vehicles for different situations. This is a particular requirement is for families with several children of differing age and size, where sometimes it may be required to carry a younger one of the children in a rear-facing seat position and at other times it is a requirement to carry a larger child in a front- facing seat position.

Furthermore, in some circumstances a vehicle user may wish to seat a child in the front passenger seat, although there may often be circumstances when an adult passenger must be seated instead. Our co- pending International patent application PCT/GB2004/001671 describes a seat assembly for a vehicle which addresses this particular problem. The adult front passenger seat is adapted so as to house a detachable child seat assembly within the adult seat base. A seat cushion of the adult seat is movable between a closed position in which the adult passenger can sit upon the seat cushion, and an open position in which the seat base volume is opened to expose a folded child seat. When the seat cushion is opened the child 1.

seat assembly can be unfolded to provide a rear-facing seat position for a child passenger. The child seat assembly is detachably mounted within the seat base so as to allow the child seat assembly to be removed from the vehicle altogether It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly which improves on the invention described in the aforementioned patent application and/or to address the requirement for seat adaptability.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a child seat assembly for a vehicle comprising a first mounting part for attachment to a child seat and a second mounting part for attachment to the vehicle, wherein the first mounting part is mounted to the second mounting part for rotation relative thereto and for translation towards and away from the second mounting part, the arrangement permitting the position of the child seat, in use, to be changed between front- and rearfacing child seat configurations without disconnecting the first mounting part from the second mounting part, or the second mounting part from the vehicle.

In one advantageous embodiment, the child seat assembly is detachably mounted upon the passenger seat so that it can be removed completely from the vehicle simply by moving the handle. In this way, the child seat assembly can be removed from the vehicle and carried conveniently away without having to disturb the seated child. The second mounting part is thus preferably configured for detached mounting to the vehicle, preferably a passenger seat in either the front or rear of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the change between the front- and rear-facing child seat configurations is achieved by displacing the first mounting part towards or away from the second mounting part and then rotating the first mounting part through substantially 1800.

For example, in one embodiment, the child seat configuration is switched by initially moving the first mounting part in a substantially vertical direction relative to the second mounting part, subsequently moving the first mounting part angularly through substantially 180 degrees and then lowering the first mounting part downwards in a vertical direction towards the second mounting part.

The first mounting part may be rotatable relative to the second mounting part about an axis and translatable relative to the second mounting part along that same axis.

The child seat assembly may further include a biasing means for urging the first mounting part into an initial position with respect to the second mounting part, whereby application of a force to the first mounting part which is sufficient to overcome the biasing means results in vertical movement of the first mounting part relative to the second mounting part.

In a preferred embodiment, the child seat assembly includes a child seat part and a child seat back part and wherein the first mounting part is a plate attached to the underside of the child seat part.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second mounting part is a platform provided with a recess which is shaped to receive the plate only when either one of two plate orientations are adopted corresponding to the front-facing and rear- facing child seat configurations. This prevents inadvertent or deliberate mis- fitting of the first and second mounting parts to prevent a child being carried in an unsafe way.

Preferably, the plate is provided with a plurality of downwardly depending lugs or projections, each of which is receivable within a corresponding recess provided in the recessed surface of the platform. Preferably, each of the recesses defines a ramped surface along which its associated lug rides as the plate is urged io towards the platform by means of the biasing means.

In a further preferred embodiment, the child seat assembly also comprises a handle which is movable between a first, stowed position and a second, carrying position.

The child seat assembly may also include a mounting arrangement, such as an ISOFIX mounting arrangement, for detachably mounting the platform to a vehicle seat assembly. Reversible coupling means may be provided, operable in either the front- or rear-facing configuration, for coupling movement of the handle to the ISOFIX mounting arrangement so as to effect detachment of the platform from the vehicle as the handle is caused to move.

In a preferred embodiment, the reversible coupling means includes first and second control rods, whereby one of the first and second control rods couples pivotal movement of the handle to the ISOFIX mounting arrangement when the front-facing configuration is provided and the other of the first and second control rods couples pivotal movement of the handle to the mounting arrangement when the rear-facing configuration is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reversing a child seat assembly of the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising applying a lifting force to the first mounting part to displace the first mounting part vertically above the second mounting part, moving the first mounting part angularly through about 180 degrees so as to reverse the orientation of the child seat assembly, and releasing the lifting force on the first mounting part so that the first mounting part returns into engagement with the second mounting part under the force of a biasing means.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a child seat assembly for use in a vehicle including a child seat part, a child seat back part and a handle which is movable between a first, stowed position and a second, carrying position, a mounting arrangement for detachably mounting the child seat assembly to a vehicle seat assembly and coupling means for coupling movement of the handle to the mounting arrangement so as to effect detachment of the child seat assembly from the vehicle seat assembly as the handle moves.

Preferably, the mounting arrangement includes first and second ISOFIX mounts for detached coupling to the vehicle seat assembly.

The child seat assembly may also include first pivot mounts means for pivotally mounting the handle to the child seat assembly so that the handle is pivotal through a range of angular movement between the stowed and carrying positions.

Preferably, the coupling means is configured to effect detachment of the mounting arrangement from the vehicle seat assembly only once the handle has moved angularly through a predetermined amount of the range of angular movement, typically about 40 degrees from the stowed position. This ensures that slight movements of the handle, for example due to vehicle motion, do not cause the ISOFIX mounts to detach.

In a preferred embodiment, the coupling means includes a control rod which is coupled to first and second release levers, each of said levers being operable to disengage an associated one of the ISOFIX mounts from the vehicle seat assembly.

Preferably, the control rod is axially movable in response to rotation of a connecting rod in connection with the first pivot mount means and wherein movement of the control rod is coupled to the ISOFIX levers through a rotatable device arranged so that axial movement of the control rod results in movement of the first ISOFIX lever in one direction and movement the second ISOFIX lever in an opposite direction, said movement of the ISOFIX levers causing the ISOFIX mounts to be released' or detached from the vehicle seat assembly.

The child seat assembly preferably includes second pivot mounts means for allowing folding of the child seat assembly into a folded configuration for stowage within a base of the vehicle seat assembly, in use.

The child seat assembly preferably includes a handle of the type having first and second handle sidewalls, each of which includes an upper handle section and a lower handle section. The lower handle sections may be mounted upon the child seat assembly at the first pivot mount means and the upper and lower handle sections of each sidewall are preferably in pivotal connection with one another at the second pivot mount means.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle includes a first handle locking means which is operable between locked and unlocked states, whereby in circumstances in which the first handle locking means is in the unlocked state the upper handle sections are able to pivot about the second pivot mount means and in circumstances in which the first handle locking means is in the locked state the upper and lower handle sections are locked together to prevent said pivotal movement about the second pivot mount means.

Second handle locking means may also be provided on the child seat assembly which are operable to lock the upper handle sections to the seat back part, so that in circumstances in which the second handle locking means is in the unlocked state, the handle is able to pivot about the first pivot mount means and the upper handle sections are able to pivot away from the child seat back part, and in circumstances in which the second handle locking means is in the locked state the handle is unable to pivot about the first pivot mount means and the upper handle section is unable to move away from the child seat back.

The provision of the first and second handle locking means provides for versatile adaptation of the child seat assembly between handle-stowed and handle- deployed positions, and between child seat folded and child seat unfolded configurations.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an adult seat configuration and a child seat configuration and including a child seat assembly of either the first or third aspect of the invention. A fifth aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle including such a vehicle seat assembly.

Although not recited in specific combination, it will be appreciated that features of the first aspect of the invention may be incorporated within the third, fourth and fifth aspects of the invention, alone or in appropriate combination.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the child seat assembly of a first aspect of the invention, incorporating a removable child seat assembly; Figure 2 is a view of the child seat assembly in Figure 1, from a different perspective and with a seat back thereof removed; Figures 3(a) , (b) and (c) show the child seat assembly in Figures 1 and 2 in first, second and third positions throughout a range of folding movement; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the child seat assembly in Figures 1 to 3 with a handle thereof in a stowed position; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the child seat assembly in Figures 1 to 4 with the handle in a carry position; Figures 6(a) is a perspective view of the child seat assembly in Figures 1 to 5, with the handle pivoted forwards and Figure 6(b) is an enlarged view of a part of the seat back of the child seat assembly to illustrate a first locking means of the handle; Figure 7(a) is an enlarged view, from the outer side of the handle, to illustrate upper and lower sections thereof, and Figure 7(b) is a view, from the inside of the child seat assembly, of the handle sections in Figure 7(a); Figure 8 is a schematic view of a coupling arrangement for coupling pivotal movement of the handle sections in Figures 7(a) and (7(b) with an ISOFIX mounting arrangement; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the handle of the child seat assembly to illustrate parts of the coupling means in Figure 8 more clearly; Figure 10 is a side view of an embodiment of the child seat assembly of a second aspect of the invention; Figure ills an exploded, perspective view of the child seat assembly in Figure 10; Figure 12 is an exploded, side view of a part of a mounting arrangement of the child seat assembly in Figure 10; Figure 13 illustrates the child seat assembly of Figure 10 when in a rear-facing seat configuration; Figure 14a illustrates the child seat assembly of Figure 10 when in a front-facing seat configuration; Figure 14b illustrates an alternative form of child seat assembly embodying the invention; Figure 15 is a schematic view of an indicator means of the child seat assembly in Figure 10; Figure 16 is an exploded, perspective view of a coupling arrangement of the child seat assembly in Figure 10; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the coupling arrangement in Figure 16 when the child seat assembly is in a front- facing seat configuration, and Figure 18 is a perspective view of the coupling arrangement in Figure 16 when the child seat assembly is in a rear-facing seat configuration.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle seat assembly, referred to generally as 10, which includes both a passenger seat and an integrated child seat. It is a function of the seat assembly 10 to provide two different seating configurations for passengers, one in which an adult passenger is seated so as to face in a forwards direction (i.e. towards the front of the vehicle) and one in which a child passenger is accommodated to face in a reverse direction (i.e. towards the rear of the vehicle).

In other words, a first seating position is provided for an adult passenger facing in a forwards direction and a second seating position is provided for a child passenger facing in a rearwards direction.

The seat assembly 10 includes a seat back 12 defining a back rest surface 14 for an adult passenger and having, at an upper end thereof, a head rest 16 for the passenger's head. A seat member or base 18 is provided at the lower end of the seat back 12. The seat base 18 is movable within guide tracks 24 mounted on the floor of the vehicle so as to permit movement of the complete seat assembly 10 relative to the vehicle floor in forward and rearward directions, as required by the passenger.

The seat base 18 defines a support for a seat member 26, or seat cushion, upon which an adult passenger can be seated. Suitable pivot means (not illustrated) are provided to permit the seat member 26 to be moved between the position shown in Figure 1, in which the seat cushion 26 is generally upright, or inclined relative to the seat base 18, and an alternative position, in which the seat cushion 26 is generally horizontal and rests upon or is supported by the seat base 18. When the seat cushion 26 is in the horizontal position (the first position), the upper surface 28 of the seat cushion 26 defmes a cushioned seating surface for the adult passenger. The pivot means typically includes first and second identical hinge arrangements of generally known type provided on respective front corners of the seat base 18 (i.e. the forward corners in the orientation shown in Figure 1). The hinge arrangements couple the seat cushion 26 and the seat base 18 together so as to permit hinged or pivotal movement of the seat cushion 26 relative to the base 18 between its upright position (as in Figure 1) and its generally horizontal position.

For the purpose of this specification, reference to a seat member being "generally upright" shall be taken to mean that the seat back 12 is inclined at an appropriate angle to define a comfortable back rest surface 14 for an adult or child passenger.

Furthermore, it is usual for the driver or passenger seat base in a vehicle to be slightly inclined to the horizontal for comfort reasons, and reference to the seat cushion 26 being "generally horizontal" shall be taken to include such slightly inclined seat positions that nonetheless define an adequate seating surface for the passenger.

As in conventional seat assemblies for vehicles, the seat back 12 is provided with an adjustment means 36, in the form of a so-called "recline dial", for permitting the angle of inclination of the seat back 12 relative to the seat base 18 to be adjusted. Typically, such adjustment means permit the seat back 12 to be moved between a first position in which it is substantially vertically inclined to the seat base 18 and either a filly-reclined position, in which the seat back 12 is folded rearwarcjs, or a folded-forwards position in which the seat back 12 is folded fully forwards to rest against the seat base 18.

The seat base 18 defines an internal seat base volume 30 within which a separable and removable child seat assembly 32 is mounted. When the seat cushion 26 is in the first position in which it rests upon the seat base 18, the internal volume 30 of the seat base 18 is enclosed and the child seat assembly 32 is hidden from view. When the seat cushion 26 is raised into the generally upright position the internal volume 30 is opened, thus making the child seat assembly 32 accessible. The upright position of the seat cushion 26 is illustrated in Figure 2, which shows the seat assembly 10 from a reverse orientation to that shown in Figure 1 with the seat back 12 removed from the view for clarity.

Referring also to Figures 3(a) to (c) and Figures 4 and 5, the child seat assembly 32 includes a child seat frame 34, a child seating part 36 and a child seat back part 38. The seat 36 and the seat back 38 of the child seat assembly 32 are typically formed from a single piece of cushioned material and are foldable together so as to provide two different child seat configurations; a folded configuration (as in the configuration of the seat assembly shown in Figure 2) in which the child seat can be accommodated within the enclosed volume 30 of the seat base 18 and an unfolded configuration (as in the configuration of the seat io assembly in Figure 1) in which a seating position is provided for the child passenger.

In summary, therefore, the seat assembly 10 provides two different seating positions. In an adult seat position, the seat cushion 26 defines a seating surface 28 for an adult passenger facing forwards in the vehicle. In a child seat position, the seat cushion 26 is opened to allow the child seat assembly 32 to be unfolded to define a seating position for a passenger facing rearwards in the vehicle. It will be appreciated that, with the seat assembly 10 defming the adult seat position, the child. seat assembly 32 is substantially hidden from view by virtue of the seat cushion 26 enclosing the internal seat base volume 30.

The child seat assembly 32 is mounted within the seat base 18, at a rear side thereof, by means of an ISOFIX compliant mounting arrangement. The ISOFIX child seat system is an automotive industry standard proposed by the United Nation Economic Commissions for Europe and would be well known to a person skilled in this technical field. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 2, the ISOFIX mounting arrangement includes a support in the form of a rear-side support bar which extends laterally across the rear side of the seat base 18. First and second laterally spaced seat mounts, referred to as ISOFIX mounts 42, are provided at the rear edge of the child seat frame 34 and are detachably coupled to the rear-side support bar 40.

In order to secure the child seat assembly 32 to the seat base 18 at its rear side, the ISOFIX mounts 42 are aligned with the rear support bar 40. Each ISOFOX mount 42 includes a pair of spring-biased jaws. When the mount 42 is pushed onto the bar 40, the jaws are forced open against the spring forces. When the support bar 40 has been received fully within the mounts 42, the spring force causes each pair of jaws to close so as to mount the child seat assembly 32 securely upon the bar 40 at its rear side.

As will be described in further detail below, a release handle (not shown) is provided which connects with the ISOFIX mounts 42 through a cable or lever, for example. By pulling on the release handle the jaws of the mounts 42 are caused to open, against the spring force, allowing the child seat frame 34 to be moved away from the rear-side support bar 40.

Referring also to Figures 4 and 5, the child seat assembly 32 is provided with a pivotally mounted handle 50, of generally horseshoe shape, which fits around the perimeter of the child seat back 38. The handle 50 is provided with side walls, which depend downwardly from an upper section 53 of the handle. The side walls may be provided with a plurality of openings 56, if desired. This has the advantage that, even if the side walls are quite pronounced, the seated child can still be seen through the openings 56. It is, however, advantageous for the side walls to have a reasonably high thickness and strength so that they provide a lateral restraint means for a child's head in an impact situation.

The handle 50 is pivotally mounted to the child seat frame 34 by means of upper and lower pivot mount arrangements. The upper pivot mount arrangement includes a left-side, upper pivot mount and a right-side, upper pivot mount. Both the left- and right-side upper pivot mounts are identified by numeral 52. Similarly the lower pivot mount arrangement includes a left-side, lower pivot mount and a right-side, lower pivot mount. Both the left- and right-side lower pivot mounts are identified by numeral 54.

Each of the handle sidewalls is formed in two sections; an upper handle section and a lower handle section 62. The upper handle section 60 connects pivotally to the lower handle section 62 at the upper pivot mounts 52 and the lower handle section 62 connects pivotally to the child seat frame 34 at the lower pivot mounts 54.

The upper pivot mounts 52 are configured to allow, in one mode of operation, the child seat back 38 to be folded or pivoted forwards so that the seat back 38 and the seat part 36 come together, at a front edge thereof, to form a compact child seat module. Figures 3(a) to (c) illustrate the folding sequence of the child seat assembly, between an unfolded configuration (as in Figure 3(a)) and a folded configuration (as in Figure 3(c)). In the folded configuration of the child seat assembly 32, the upper handle sections are pivoted forwards so that the upper edge of the seat back 38 makes contact, or near contact, with the child seat 36 but the lower sections 62 of the handle sidewalls remains in their upright positions.

As folding of the child seat assembly 32 requires the seat back 38 to bend or fold part way along its length, between upper and lower regions of the seat back 38, the seat back 38 must be formed from suitably flexible material(s).

The upper pivot mounts 52 are also configured to allow, in another mode of operation, the upper and lower handle sections 60, 62 to be locked together, but detached from the seat back 38, so that the handle 50 can pivot forwards to take up a carrying position. Figure 4 illustrates the handle 50 in its upright (stowed) position, in which it sits adjacent to, or surrounds, the seat back 38. Figure 5 illustrates the handle 50 when pivoted forwards into a carrying position. When a child is travelling in the child seat assembly 32, the handle 50 is moved into the upright position shown in Figure 4. In the event of a side vehicle impact (crossvehicle impact), the handle side walls 60, 62 provide a lateral support means for the child's head and thus provide an advantageous safety feature. In other words, the side and/or head bolster of the seat is provided by the handle 50 itself which may therefore be provided with suitable cushioning or the like on the inner surface of the side waIls 60, 62.

When the handle 50 is pivoted forwards away from the seat back 38, the weight of a seated child forces the seat back 38 to remain upright, rather than drawing forward with the handle 50. Additionally, a stiff hinge is provided between upper and lower regions of the seat back 38 (i. e. in the region in which the seat back 38 folds) to ensure the seat back 38 does not fold forwards under its own weight.

Optionally, the child seat assembly 32 may also be provided with a movable cover or membrane (not shown) in attachment with the handle 50. As the handle is pivoted forwards about the mounts 54, the membrane is drawn forwards to create a part-enclosed volume for a seated child. Preferably, the membrane is made of a waterproof material.

There now follows a more detailed description of the mechanisms which allow either (I) the upper handle sections 60 to be pivoted forwards together with the lower handle sections 62 to allow carrying of the child seat assembly 32 or (II) the upper handle sections 60 only to be pivoted forwards, together with an upper s portion of the seat back 38, so as to allow the child seat assembly 32 to be folded.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the first handle locking means includes a sidewall catch member in the form of a pin 66. Preferably, one sidewall pin 66 is provided on each sidewall, although alternatively only one of the sidewalls may be provided with a pin 66. For simplicity, the operation of only a single pin 66 will be described in detail.

The sidewall pin 66 is provided on the upper handle section 60 and is cooperable with a detent or groove 68 provided on the lower handle section 62. The sidewall pin 66 is spring-biased into the detent 68 (i.e. into the position shown in Figure 7(b)). The sidewall pin 66 is attached to linking means in the form of a cable or lever 70, which attaches, at an upper end thereof, to a push button mechanism (not shown) at the upper section 53 of the handle 50.

If the first handle locking means is in a locked state, the sidewall pin 66 is received within the detent 68 so that the upper and lower handle sections 60, 62 are locked' together, allowing them to pivot together about the lower pivot mounts 54. If the first handle locking means is in an unlocked state, the sidewall pin 66 is detached from the recess 68 so that upper handle section 60 becomes de- coupled from the lower handle section 62 and thus is able to pivot about the upper pivot mounts 52.

Switching of the first handle locking means between the locked and unlocked states is effected by the user manipulating the push button. When the user activates the push button, the cable 70 is pulled upwards causing the sidewall pin 66 to disengage from the detent 68 in the lower handle section 62 so as to unlock' the handle sections 60, 62. With the sidewall pin 66 disengaged from the detent 68, the upper handle section 60 is able to pivot, relative to the lower handle section 62, about the upper pivot mounts 52. If the user releases the push button, the sidewall pin 66 is urged back

into the detent 68 under the spring force to lock' the handle sections 60, 62 together.

This allows the handle 50 to be moved through the sequence of steps illustrated in Figures 3(a) to (c) so that it takes up the folded child seat configuration.

The handle 50 is also provided with a second handle locking means including upper and lower catch members, 72 and 74 respectively, in the form of upper and lower pins. The upper pin 72 is spring-biased into an upper detent 76 provided on the child seat back 38, as shown in Figure 6(b). The lower pin 74 is spring-biased into a lower detent 78 provided on the child seat frame 34, as shown in Figure 7(b). The upper and lower pins 72, 74 of the second handle locking means are attached to additional linking means, in the form of a second cable or lever 80, which attaches, at an upper end thereof, to a handlebar or clasp (82 - identified in Figures 3(a) to (c)) provided at the upper section 53 of the handle 50.

As the user operates the handlebar 82, the second cable 80 is pulled upwards causing the upper pin 72 to disengage from the detent 76 in the child seat back 38 and, simultaneously, or near simultaneously, causing the lower pin 74 to disengage from the detent 78 in the child seat frame 34. With both pins 72, 74 disengaged, the second handle locking means is in the unlocked state and the upper handle section 60 is able to pivot forwards 54, away from the child seat back 38, into the carrying position shown in Figure 5. It will be appreciated that in order to ensure the handle sections 60, 62 pivot forwards together away from the seat back 38, the first handle locking means 66, 68 must be in the locked state.

To return the handle 50 to the stowed position, the user releases the handlebar 82 and pivots the handle 50 rearwards, allowing the upper pin 72 to engage within the detent 76 in the child seat back 38 and the lower pin 74 to engage within the detent 78 in the child seat frame 34. With the pins 72, 74 engaged, the handle 50 cannot pivot forwards away from the seat back 38, and thus the child seat assembly 32 adopts a secure, child-carrying configuration, as shown in Figure 4.

This is the locked state of the second handle locking means.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that only if the first handle locking means 66, 68 is in the unlocked state and the second handle locking means 72, 76, 74, 78 is in the locked state is the upper handle section 60 able to pivot forwards so that the child seat assembly 32 adopts the folded configuration of Figure 3(c). If the first handle locking means 66, 68 is in the locked state, any force urging the handle 50 to pivot forwards about the upper pivot mounts 52 will be ineffective or cause damage to the assembly 32.

In order for the seat back 38 to provide an adequate support for the child's back, a relatively stiff connection is required between the back 38 and the seat 36 as this is the only means by which the seat back 38 is supported when the handle 50 is pivoted forwards i.e. the second handle locking means is unlocked.

It is a particular feature of this aspect of the invention that the handlebar 82 for disengaging the second locking means, 72, 76, 74, 78 is also operable to release the jaws of the ISOFIX mounts 42 from the rear side support bar 40. For this s purpose, the child seat assembly 32 is provided with coupling means for coupling the movement of the handle 50 to a release mechanism for the ISOFIX mounts 42, as will now be described in further detail.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it can be seen that the lower (base) ends of the lower handle sections 62 are connected at opposite ends of a pivotal connecting bar or rod 82 which forms part of the aforementioned coupling means. The connecting rod 82 rests within feet 84 mounted upon the child seat frame 34 which permit the rod 82 to be rotated, about its main axis, as the handle sections 62 are caused to pivot about the lower pivot mounts 54.

The connecting rod 82 carries a paddle 83 which is located approximately centrally along the rod length. The paddle 83 connects with a control rod 86 of the coupling means which extends rearward from the mid-point of the connecting rod 82 so that, as the connecting rod 82 rotates upon pivotal movement of the handle 50, the paddle 83 actuates the control rod 86, causing it to move axially (i.e. along its main axis) in rearward and forward directions. Whether the control rod 86 moves rearwards or forwards depends on whether the handle is pivoting forwards from the upright position or rearwards from the carrying position,.

At the opposite end of the control rod 86 from the connecting rod 82, the rod 86 co-operates with a rotatable member in the form of a see-saw' type device 88, The rotatable device 88 is attached to the control rod 86 in such a way that axial movement of the control rod 86 causes the device 88 to rotate about a central mount. The rotatable device 88 is coupled to first and second ISOFIX levers 90 which pass through a part of the seat assembly frame 34 to connect with an associated one of the ISOFIX mounts 42.

As the rotatable device 88 is caused to rotate, one of the ISOFIX levers 90 is pulled in one direction (i.e. inward from left side of the frame 34) and the other ISOFIX lever 90 is pulled in the opposite direction (inward from the right side of the frame 34). Axial movement of the control rod 86 therefore results in movement of the cables 90 to release or disengage the ISOFIX mounts 42 from the support bar 40.

By coupling pivotal movement of the handle 50 to the release mechanism for the ISOFIX mounts 42, it will be appreciated that the invention provides a quick and convenient means for dismounting the child seat assembly 32 from the seat assembly 10. It is a particular benefit that the child seat assembly 32 can be dismounted without having to remove the seated child (for example, if he or she is sleeping) as the only action required to release the ISOFIX mounts 42 from the rear side support bar 40 is to pivot the handle forwards 50.

It is preferable for the connecting rod 82, the control rod 86 and the rotatable device 88 to be adjusted so that the extent of movement of the ISOFIX levers 90 which is required to release the ISOFIX mounts 42 from the rear side support bar occurs only after the handle 50 has pivoted forwards through a predetermined threshold of angular movement. Preferably, the predetermined threshold of angular movement is about 40 degrees, although any threshold in the range of between about 20 and 50 degrees may be selected.

In a further preferred embodiment, the seat cushion 26 and the seat base 18 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be provided with co-operable parts of a switch arrangement in the form of an electrical latch indication means (not shown) for providing an indication of whether the seat cushion 26 is in its raised, generally upright, inclined position or its lowered, horizontal position. An electrical connection is broken when the seat cushion 26 is raised out of the horizontal position and an indication signal is provided to an airbag control system or control unit to indicate that the seat cushion 26 is raised and, hence, the child seat position of the assembly has been taken up. In such circumstances, the control system provides a control signal to disable a passenger airbag of the vehicle.

Reconnection is established upon the seat member being lowered into the horizontal position (i.e. the adult seat position) and the airbag control system provides a control signal to enable functioning of the passenger airbag. This feature is described in our co-pending international patent application It is a benefit of providing this feature that an automatic means is provided for disabling the passenger airbag in the event that the child seat position is adopted, said means also being configured to automatically enable the passenger airbag in the event that the adult seat position is adopted.

Another concern of the present invention is to provide a convenient means of switching the child seat assembly 32 between an orientation in which a rear- facing seat position is provided to one in which a front-facing seat position is provided. For example, this may be desirable in families where children of different ages are to be carried in the child seat assembly and there is a requirement to switch between a rear-facing seat position for smaller child and a front-facing seat position for a larger child. It is a particular aim of this aspect of the invention to allow switching between the different child seat configurations without removing the child seat assembly 32 from the vehicle altogether.

Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the child seat assembly 32 is generally of the aforementioned type, including a child seat back 38 and a child seat 36 which is mounted upon a child seat mounting means. The child seat mounting means includes two mounting parts, a first upper mounting part in the form of an upper plate 91 and a second, lower mounting part in the form of a platform 94. The upper plate 91 may be fixed to the child seat 36 by any suitable means, for example using bolts and/or screws. The upper plate 91 carries four lugs or projections 92 which extend downwardly from the underside of the plate 91. In the views of Figures 10 and 12, only two of the lugs 92 are visible, whereas three lugs 92 can be seen in the perspective view of Figure 11.

The platform 94 is provided with a shallow recess 103 on its upper surface within which the upper plate 91 sits when in either its rear- or front-facing orientations.

The platform 94 is mounted within the vehicle by means of an ISOFIX mounting arrangement which is generally of the type described previously, thus having first and second rear side ISOFIX mounts 42 provided on the rear side of the assembly 32. A spigot 96 extends downwardly from the upper plate 91 for receipt within a central opening 98 provided in the platform 94. The spigot 96 extends into the opening 98 and into a helical tension spring 99 so that the spring 99 serves to pull the upper plate 91 downwards into the recess 103 in the platform 94. At the base of the spring 99, a push-pad 101 is provided which connects with the lower end of the spigot 96. By applying a force to the underside of the spigot 96, to act against the spring force, the spigot 96 can be displaced upwardly within the opening 98 i.e. vertically along the spigot axis. It may be preferable also to provide additional handles (not shown) on the sides of the child seat 36 to aid vertical lifting of the plate 91, and the parts 36, 38 mounted thereon, when the s push-pad 101 is pushed to act against the spring 99.

When the upper plate 91 is urged towards the platform 94 by the spring force, each of the downwardly extending lugs 92 engages within a corresponding recess provided in the recessed surface of the platform 94. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 11, each recess 100 is tapered so as to defme a shallow ramped surface which terminates, at its lowest point, in a retaining well 102. During normal use of the child seat assembly 32 when it is fitted to the vehicle and carrying, or set up for carrying, a child passenger, the lugs 92 are received within their respective recesses 100 so that they lodge securely within the wells 102.

Referring also to Figures 13 and 14a, when it is required to switch the orientation of the child seat assembly 32 from the rear-facing configuration (Figure 13) to the front-facing configuration (Figure 14a), the user pushes on the underside of the push-pad 101 to urge the spigot 96 vertically upwards within the opening 98, against the force of the spring 99. This causes the upper plate 91 to be raised vertically above the platform 94, dislodging the lugs 92 from their recesses 100 and thus allowing the child seat 36 to be rotated, or moved angularly, through 180 degrees about the spigot axis 96. As the upper plate 91 can be rotated about the axis of the spigot 96, it may be referred to as a rotatable' plate.

Once the child seat 36 has been rotated through 180 degrees, the user releases the force on the spring 99 sO that the spring force draws the upper plate 91 vertically downwards into engagement with the platform 94 once again. As the plate 91 is lowered, each of the lugs 92 rides down the ramped surface of its recess 100 into the well 102. Such shaping of the recesses 100 eases re-fitting of the upper plate 91 onto the platform 94 as, even if the child seat assembly 32 is lowered before it has been turned through a full 180 degrees, the lugs 92 will be encouraged into the wells 102 as they ride down the ramped surfaces. This provides a quality feel' for the user when switching between different child seat configurations.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that switching the child seat assembly between its two different positions involves a convenient action of displacing the child seat assembly 32 vertically upwards away from the platform 94, against the force of the spring 99, rotating or turning the child seat assembly 32 through 180 degrees and then lowering the child seat assembly 32 back onto the platform 94 into the platform recess 103. All three steps in the switching process can be accomplished without the requirement to detach the child seat assembly 32 from the vehicle altogether, as the ISOFIX mounts 42 at all times stay connected with the rear support bar 40.

For reasons of safety, it may be desirable that the child seat assembly 32 can only be oriented on the platform 94 in one of the two possible orientations (i. e. front- facing or rear-facing), and that inadvertent misfitting of the assembly 32 is prevented. For this purpose, it is advantageous to shape the shallow recess 103 in the platform 94 and the upper plate 91 so that the latter fits within the former in only one or the other of the two orientations i.e. front-facing or rear-facing. For example, the platform recess 103 and the upper plate 91 may be correspondingly rectangular or oval in shape, or any other shape having a different length along orthogonal axes.

In some circumstances, however, it may be desirable to permit the seat assembly to be fixed in a lateral position, i.e. a position facing the side of the vehicle rather than in a front- or the rear-facing position. For example, when a vehicle is parked and the passenger door open, a laterally-facing position of the child seat will permit the child to look out of the open door. In this case, the arrangement of lugs and recesses may be symmetrical about two orthogonal axes to permit fixing of the seat in four or more orthogonal orientations.

In an alternative embodiment (shown in Figure 14b), the platform 94 is replaced by a shallow, open ended, cylindrical container 194 having a base 197 and an upstanding circumferential wall 195, the upper edge of which features a radially inwardly extending lip 196. A plate 191, which is adapted for connection to a child seat 36, is centrally mounted within the cylinder, for rotation relative thereto, and is biased towards the underside of the lip 196 by means of a compression spring 199. The upper surface of the plate 191 is provided with one or more lugs 192 extending upwardly, in use, and adapted for seated engagement with corresponding recesses 200 disposed in the lower surface of the lip 196.

In this embodiment, switching of the child seat assembly between frontand rear- facing positions involves a vertically downward displacement of the child seat.

This convenient movement, against the biasing force of the spring 199, disengages the lugs 192 from the recesses 200 thereby pennitting the plate 191, and thus the child seat assembly, to be rotated through the desired angle relative to the cylinder 194. Again, no detachment of the seat either from the vehicle or from the base portion (the cylinder) is required.

In order to prevent the weight of a child from disengaging the lugs 192 from the recesses 200, means may be provided for locking the plate in position vertically relative to the cylinder. In one embodiment, this is achieved by a cam arrangement 210 which, when rotated by the user, hinders or prevents downward movement of the plate 191, thereby preventing disengagement of the lugs 192 from the recesses 200. Releasing the cam 210 permits downward movement of the plate, thereby allowing rotation of the seat assembly as described above.

Referring to Figure 15, as a further safety feature to prevent misalignment of the child seat assembly 32 on the platform 94, an indicator means 104 is provided to indicate to the user whether or not the upper plate 91 is aligned correctly on the platform 94. The indicator means 104 includes an indicator switch 106 on the front side of the platform 94 which is visible to the user only when the plate 91 is mounted correctly. A spring-biased pin 108 is located within one of the retaining wells 102 and connects to one end of a connecting member or cable 110, the other end of which connects with the indicator switch 106. When the child seat assembly 32 is oriented correctly on the platform 94, the lug 100 locates within its well 102, pushing down on the spring- biased pin 108 and thus causing the connecting member 110 to push the indicator switch 106 outwards so that it protrudes from the front side of the platform 94. By virtue of the pronounced switch, a visual indication is thus provided to the user that the child seat assembly 32 is correctly fitted to the platform 94 and, thus, safe to use.

If the child seat assembly 32 is not correctly located within the recess 103 on the platform 94, as a result of the user either deliberately or inadvertently mis- aligning the plate 91, the pin 108 is urged upwards by the spring so that it protrudes into the well 102 and the spring force pulls the indicator switch 106 into the platform 94 at its front side. If the switch 106 is hidden from view (i.e. when it is retracted into the platform 94), a warning is provided to the user that the child seat 36 is not fitted correctly to the platform 94 and, thus, not safe to use.

In many circumstances, it may be desirable to combine the features of the first aspect of the invention with those of the second, namely to provide a rotatable mounting means 91, 94 for the child seat assembly in combination with a pivotal handle 50 which is coupled to the release mechanism for the ISOFIX mounts 42.

Figures 16 to 18 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention which allows these two functions to be provided on the same assembly 32 by providing a reversible coupling means for coupling pivotal movement of the handle 50 to the release mechanism for the ISOFIX mounts 42.

Referring to Figures 16 to 18, similar parts to those shown in previous figures are denoted with like reference numerals and will not be described in further detail.

The frame of the child seat assembly 32 includes a chassis or base 120 which is provided with rear and front slots, 122, 124 respectively (only those parts of the chassis 120 provided with the slots 122, 124 are shown for clarity).

The slots 122, 124 are shaped to receive and guide movement of the paddle 83 of the connecting rod 82 as the handle 50 is pivoted and the connecting rod 82 rotates about its axis. Depending on whether the child seat assembly 32 is fitted in the rear- or front-facing configuration determines within which of the slots, 122 or 124, the paddle 83 is received. Either the child seat assembly 32 is oriented so that the paddle 83 locates within the front slot 124 (the rear-facing configuration Figure 18) or the child seat assembly 32 is oriented so that the paddle 83 locates within the rear slot 122 (the front-facing configuration - Figure 17). The paddle 83 is connectable either with a rear control rod 186 or a front control rod 286, both of which are in connection with a different one of the prongs of a four-pronged rotatable device 188. The rotatable device 188 moves angularly about a central mount as a result of either the front or rear control rod, 186 or 286, being moved axially.

If the child seat assembly 32 is in the front-facing configuration, the reversible coupling means is in the configuration shown in Figure 17 in which the handle is located 50 at the rear side of the child seat chassis 120 and the paddle 83 locates within the rear slot 122. In this configuration, one end of the rear control rod 186 connects with the paddle 83 and the other end of the rear control rod connects with a first one of the prongs of the rotatable device 188. The opposite prong of the rotatable device 188 connects with the front control rod 286 although, as will be apparent from the following description, in the front-facing configuration the front control rod 286 is not used. The other two prongs of the rotatable device 188 are each connected to one of the ISOFIX levers 90 so that, as the device 188 is caused to rotate, the ISOFIX levers 90 are actuated to release the ISOFIX mounts 42.

As the handle 50 is pivoted forwards away from the seat back 38 the paddle 83 is caused to translate rearwards (as indicated by the arrow), thereby pulling the rear control rod 186 rearwards so as to rotate the device 188 anti-clockwise. Angular movement of the device 188 results in each of the ISOFIX levers 90 being pulled inwardly to release the jaws of the ISOFIX mounts 42 from the rear side support bar 40, thus allowing the child seat assembly 32 to be removed from the vehicle.

If the child seat assembly 32 is in the rear-facing configuration shown in Figure 18, it is the front control rod 286 which connects with the paddle 83 on the connecting rod 82 and the rear control rod 186 is unused. As the handle 50 is pivoted forwards away from the child seat back, the connecting rod 82 is caused to rotate, pulling the front control rod 286 forwards and rotating the device 188 anti-clockwise about its mount. As described previously, the ISOFIX levers 90 are pulled in opposite directions and, as a result, the ISOFIX mounts 42 are disengaged from the rear side support bar 40, thus allowing the child seat assembly 32 to be removed from the vehicle.

Any of the aforementioned embodiments of the child seat assembly may be mounted within the front passenger seat of a vehicle, or alternatively may be mounted within the vehicle rear.

In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) to those described previously, the front side of the child seat assembly 32 may be provided with a front-side mounting means to allow the assembly 32 to be secured to a front side support bar. The front-side mounting means may be releasable, preferably through operation of a release lever, to allow convenient detachment of the child seat assembly 32 from the seat base 18. For example, a lower portion of the reverse side of the child seat back 38 (i.e. that side of the seat back 38 which does not define part of the seating surface) may be provided with at least one spring- loaded jaw which co-operates with the front-side support bar in a releasable fashion.

A possible disadvantage of providing the front side mounting means on the child seat assembly is that in order to dismount the child seat assembly 32 from the seat assembly 10 it is also necessary to release the front side mounting means from the front side support bar. Dismounting of the child seat assembly 32 cannot therefore be achieved in a single stage action (e.g. simply by pivoting the handle forwards). For this reason, it is preferable for the child seat assembly 32 to be supported on the seat assembly 10 only by means of the ISOFIX mounts 42 on its rear-side.

Claims

1. A child seat assembly (32) for use in a vehicle, the child seat assembly including a child seat part (36), a child seat back part (38) and a handle (50) s which is movable between a first, stowed position and a second, carrying position, a mounting arrangement (42, 40) for detachably mounting the child seat assembly (32) to a vehicle seat assembly (10), the mounting arrangement (42, 40) comprising first and second laterally spaced seat mounts (42) provided on the child seat assembly for detached coupling to the vehicle seat assembly (10), and coupling means (54, 82, 86, 88, 90) for coupling movement of the handle (50) to the mounting arrangement (42, 40) so as to effect detachment of the child seat assembly (32) from the vehicle seat assembly (10) as the handle (50) moves.

2. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second seat mounts are ISOFIX mounts (42).

3. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including first pivot mounts means (54) for pivotally mounting the handle (50) to the child seat assembly (32) so that the handle (50) is pivotal through a range of angular movement between the stowed and carrying positions.

4. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling means is configured to detach the mounting arrangement (42, 40) from the vehicle seat assembly (10) only once the handle (50) has moved angularly through a predetermined amount of the range of angular movement.

5. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the coupling means includes a control rod (86) which is coupled to first and second release levers (90), each of said levers (90) being operable to disengage an associated one of the ISOFIX mounts (42) from the vehicle seat s assembly (10).

6. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control rod (86) is axially movable in response to rotation of a connecting rod (82) in connection with the first pivot mount means (54) and wherein movement of the control rod (86) is coupled to the ISOFIX levers (90) through a rotatable device (88) arranged so that axial movement of the control rod (86) results in movement of the first ISOFIX lever (90) in one direction and movement the second ISOFIX lever (90) in an opposite direction.

7. The child seat assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, including second pivot mounts means (52) for allowing folding of the child seat assembly (32) into a folded configuration for stowage within a base (18) of the vehicle seat assembly (10), in use.

8. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle (50) comprises first and second handle sidewalls, each of which includes an upper handle section (60) and a lower handle section (62), wherein the lower handle sections (62) are mounted upon the child seat assembly (32) at the first pivot mount means (54) and wherein the upper and lower handle sections (60, 62) of each sidewall are in pivotal connection with one another at the second pivot mount means (52).

9. The child seat assembly (32) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the handle (50) includes a first handle locking means (66, 68) which is operable between locked and unlocked states, whereby in circumstances in which the first handle locking means is in the unlocked state the upper handle sections (60) are able to pivot about the second pivot mount means (52) and in circumstances in which the first handle locking means is in the locked state the upper and lower handle sections (60, 62) are locked together to prevent said pivotal movement about the second pivot mount means (52).

10. The child seat assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the handle includes second handle locking means (72, 76, 74, 78) which is operable to lock the upper handle sections (60) to the seat back part (38), whereby in circumstances in which the second handle locking means is in the unlocked state the handle (50) is able to pivot about the first pivot mount means (54) and the upper handle sections (60) are able to pivot away from the child seat back part (38), and in circumstances in which the second handle locking means is in the locked state the handle (50) is unable to pivot about the first pivot mount means (54) and the upper handle sections (60) are unable to move away from the child seat back (38) .

11. A vehicle seat assembly (10) providing an adult seat configuration and a child seat configuration and including a child seat assembly (32) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. A vehicle including a vehicle seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 11.