GB2441520A

GB2441520A - Vehicle seat with adjustable seat belt.

Info

Publication number: GB2441520A
Application number: GB0617549A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Kimberley
Original assignee: Rescroft Ltd
Current assignee: Rescroft Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-07
Filing date: 2006-09-07
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Also published as: GB0617549D0

Abstract

A vehicle seat (10) fitted with an all ages seat belt (16) is described. The seat has a squab (12) and a cushion part (14). The seat belt has a main strap (18) with upper and lower anchorage points to a first side of the seat and a tongue (20) on the main strap for receipt in a socket (22) providing a lower anchorage point to a second side of the seat, such that in use the seat belt provides a lap strap (18) and a shoulder strap (18k) as in a conventional lap-and-diagonal seat belt. The seat belt further includes an additional strap (24) having upper and lower anchorage points on the first side of the seat, and an adjuster (30) through which the main strap and additional strap pass, which can be slid up and down the straps to alter the effective length of the shoulder strap. The additional strap is provided on the front surface of the squab from an upper location (26) adjacent and just below where the main strap comes to the front surface of the squab to a lower location (28). The additional strap goes into the squab at the lower location.

Description

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Ref: A11750G8 Title: Vehicle Seat with Seat Belt DescriDtion of Invention The invention relates to a vehicle seat fitted with a seat belt, and in particular to one fitted with an "all ages" belt, for use in minibuses, coaches, ambulances and the like.

In recent years, following a number of accidents involving minibuses, coaches and the like, it has become the norm to provide seat belts in such vehicles, and in some countries has become compulsory to do so. However, a seat belt : s that fits and retains an adult securely will not fit and retain a smaller *5I* passenger, such as a child, as well, as securely or indeed as safely. This has S...

led to the development of what are termed in the industry as "all ages" belts. S...

.. : They are also called "generation" belts, "height adjustable" belts and "baby adjuster" belts * S : 20 Most vehicle seat belts are three point belts, which have a lap strap going * . across the wearers lap and a shoulder strap going diagonally across the wearers body and over one shoulder, the two parts being formed from one continuous piece of webbing. The three points referred to in the name of the belt are the three anchorage points, one to either side of the lap and one over one shoulder.

The location of the anchorage points of three point belts determine the size of people that the belts fit. A belt set up for an adult will have a shoulder strap that crosses a child's neck which is not suitable or safe. Booster cushions can be used to raise a child up to make the belt fit them better, but clearly these are bulky and not always available. Thus "all ages" belts have been developed Al 1750GB * 2 to make three point belts adjustable such that they are more adjustable for smaller users.

All ages belts include an additional webbing strap which extends from the shoulder anchorage point to the lap anchorage point on the same side of the seat. This additional strap is not extendable. An adjuster, in the form of a slider, is provided through which the shoulder strap and the additional strap pass, such that the adjuster can be slid up and down these straps. When the seat belt is worn by an adult the adjuster is moved to the top of the straps, such that the shoulder strap passes diagonally across the wearers body from close to the shoulder anchorage point. When the seat belt is worn by a child the adjuster is slid down the straps such that the shoulder strap is held :.:::. vertically against the additional strap above the adjuster and then permitted to pass diagonally across the wearers body only from the adjuster downwardly.

Thus the all ages belt keeps the shoulder strap from passing across the child's : neck. S..

However, known seats fitted with "all ages" belts suffer from a number of problems, one of which this invention seeks to address.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat having a squab and a cushion part, the seat belt having a main strap with upper and lower anchorage points to a first side of the seat and a tongue on the main strap for receipt in a socket providing a lower anchorage point to a second side of the seat, such that in use the seat belt provides a lap strap and a shoulder strap, the seat belt further including an additional strap having upper and lower anchorage points on the first side of the seat, and an adjuster through which the main strap and additional strap pass, which can be slid up and down the straps to alter the effective length of the shoulder strap, A1175OGB the additional strap being provided on the front surface of the squab from an upper location adjacent and just below where the main strap comes to the front surface of the squab to a lower location, wherein the additional strap goes into the squab at the lower location.

Preferably the additional strap goes into the squab at the lower location through an escutcheon.

The lower location may be at least 100mm below the upper location, or at least 150mm below the upper location, or at least 200mm below the upper location, or at least 250mm below the upper location, or at least 300mm below the upper location. * .* * I * I...

* Conveniently the additional strap comes out of the squab at the upper location through an escutcheon. The main strap may also come out of the squab through the same escutcheon. I..

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According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle seat *:*. including an all ages seat belt according to the first aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention, by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of vehicle seat fitted with an all ages belt according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view along the dashed line of B-B in Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows, and Figure 3 is a view of the upper part of the seat along the same line.

Referring to the Figures a vehicle seat 10 has a squab (or back part) 12 and a cushion part 14. A three point seat belt 16 includes a webbing strap 18 providing a lap strap 1 8 and a shoulder strap 1 8, extending from the fixed Al 1750GB * 4 lower anchorage point (not shown, but bottom left in Figure 1) to a fixed upper anchorage point (not shown, but within the squab middle left in Figure 1, and incorporating an inertia reel in known manner). The strap 18 carries a slidable buckle tongue 20 for receipt on a buckle socket 22 (often called a belt tongue receiver) to provide the third anchorage point.

The seat belt 16 also includes an additional webbing strap 24 with a upper anchorage point 24a within an upper portion of the squab 12 and an lower anchorage point 24b within an lower portion of the squab 12. The additional webbing strap 24 passes from the upper anchorage point 24 out of the squab through an upper escutcheon 26, down the front of the squab 12 and back into the squab 12 through a lower escutcheon 28 to the lower anchorage point ::::. 24b. The lower escutcheon 28 is a distance of at least 100mm below the upper *:::* escutcheon 26. The lower escutcheon 28 may be at least 150mm, or at least 200mm, or at least 250mm, or at least 300mm. S... * a. *

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* Thus the additional strap 24 is provided on the surface of the squab 12 from the upper escutcheon 26 to the lower escutcheon 28, this being for a distance *:*. sufficient to provide the degree of adjustment required, as set out above. The additional strap 24 is also held tightly against the squab 12 for the distance that it is on the surface, much more so than is the case in the prior art where the additional strap extends to the lower fixed anchorage point of the main strap 18, or to a location at the very base of the squab 12. This provides the all ages belt of the present invention with several advantages over the prior art all ages belts, as will become clear below.

The seat belt 16 also includes an adjuster 30 through which both the shoulder strap 18b and the additional strap 24 pass. The adjuster 30 is slidable up and down the straps 18 and 24 to alter the effective length of the shoulder strap 18b to fit the seat belt 16 to different sized wearers, as is known in the prior art.

A11750G5 The advantages of the present invention are as follows. Firstly the adjustment of the belt 16 by sliding the adjuster 30 down the straps 18 and 24 is more effective than in the prior art, as the additional strap 24 is retained more closely against the squabl2. Second, when a wearer puts the belt 16 on they are less likely to try and put their arm behind the additional strap 24 as well as behind the shoulder belt 18b, thus making the belt of the present invention easier to use.

The vehicle seat 10 illustrated in the Figures is of the type known as high back, often supplied in minibuses. The present invention may also be used in other types of vehicle seat, for example semi-high back where the squab is lower and the seat also includes a head restraint above the squab. * ** ** * ***

** When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the *** * presence of other features, steps or components. * * * * *

:::.:: The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

A117500B a 6

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt, the seat

having a squab and a cushion part, and the seat belt having a main strap with upper and lower anchorage points to a first side of the seat and a tongue on the main strap for receipt in a socket providing a lower anchorage point to a second side of the seat, such that in use the seat belt provides a lap strap and a shoulder strap, the seat belt further including an additional strap having upper and lower anchorage points on the first side of the seat, and an adjuster through which the main strap and additional strap pass, which can be slid up and down the straps to alter the effective length of the shoulder strap, the additional strap being provided on the front surface of the squab from an :.:::. upper location adjacent and just below where the main strap comes to the * front surface of the squab to a lower location, wherein the additional strap goes into the squab at the lower location.

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2. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat : * * according to claim 1 wherein the additional strap goes into the squab at the I.. * lower location through an escutcheon.
3. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower location is at least 100mm below the upper location.
4. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 3 wherein the lower location is at least 150mm below the upper location.
5. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 4 wherein the lower location is at least 200mm below the upper location.

A1175OGB
6. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 5 wherein the lower location is at least 250mm below the upper location.
7. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 6 wherein the lower location is at least 300mm below the upper location.
8. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the additional strap comes out of the squab at the upper location through an escutcheon.

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9. A vehicle seat fitted with an all ages seat belt for a vehicle seat according to claim 8 wherein the main strap also comes out of the squab through the escutcheon. * * * S. S

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10. An all ages seat belt adapted to be fitted to a seat according to according to anyone of claims I to 9. S. S * SS

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11. An all ages seat belt substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A vehicle seat including an all ages seat belt substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein andor in the accompanying drawings.

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