GB2468647A

GB2468647A - Integrated child restraint system for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2468647A
Application number: GB0904470A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Humphery; Andrew Young; Christopher Day; Shaun Watson; Chris Cottingham
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-16
Filing date: 2009-03-16
Publication date: 2010-09-22
Also published as: GB0904470D0

Abstract

A seat for a vehicle comprises a seat back 24 and a seat base 22, the seat base 22 defining, at least in part, a seat portion for an occupant, wherein the seat back 24 is movable relative to the seat base between a stowed position and a deployed position 24B, such that the length of the seat base 22 is effectively reduced when the seat back 24 is in the deployed position 24B. The seat comprises a lumbar support (26 see fig 5A) which pivots rearwardly when the seat back 24 is slid forwards. This may be accompanied by the seat base 22 rising to a deployed position 22B using a four bar linkage. Adjustable seat belt guide positions are provided. The invention provides a shortened seat cushion length for children.

Description

Integrated Child Restraint System This invention relates to seats for passenger vehicles and in particular to a passenger vehicle seat with a deployable integrated child seat.

Passenger vehicle seats are designed to accommodate a wide range of size and shape of occupant. However, it is widely accepted that a standard adult seat equipped with a standard three point seatbelt, as provided in most passenger vehicles, is inadequate for safely restraining younger children.

Standard vehicle seats are designed for the adult frame and as a result are unsuitable for restraining the frame of smaller children. Furthermore, and of critical importance for restraint of the occupant in the event of a collision, standard seats do not position the child correctly with relation to the seatbelt. The dangers are well known and legislation is widely implemented in order to prevent young children being carried in standard car seats. In the UK, children must travel in an appropriate CRS until they are 1.35m in height.

As a result, various types of child restraint systems or CRS have been developed to provide for the safe transport of younger children in passenger vehicles. Broadly speaking those restraints fall into the following categories, in order of weight and age of the child: rearward facing baby seat (Group 0 & 0+); forward facing child seat (Group 1); booster seats (Group 2), and booster cushions (Group 3).

Group 0+ rearward facing CRS is suitable for babies up to 13 kilograms, depending on the type of seat and are typically fixed to the standard vehicle seat using the vehicle seatbelt or via ISOFIX anchorage points.

Forward facing CRS are intended to be used for children within a particular weight range, depending on the category of CRS. Group 1 CRS are intended for children from 9 to 18 kg. Group 2 CRS are intended for children from 15 to 25 kg and Group 3 CRS are intended for children from 22 to 36 kg. Booster seats (Group 2) have a seat back and a seat base whereas booster cushions (Group 3) only have a seat base. Like rearward facing CRS, forward facing CRS as well as booster seats and cushions may be detachably secured to the vehicle seat using the vehicle seatbelt or ISOFIX attachment points.

The purpose of booster seats and cushions is twofold. Firstly, to align the child's shoulder, neck and pelvis correctly with respect to the diagonal and lap portions of the seatbelt. Secondly to provide a seat base that has a shorter length than the standard vehicle seat thereby ensuring that the length of the seat base is proportionate to the thigh length of the child.

Compliance with the regulations regarding children from birth up to four years old, that is to say in rearward facing (Group 0) to forward facing (Group 1) child seats (CRS), is is generally improving in Europe. However ensuring compliance with the regulations covering children from four years old to approximately 11 years old is more often problematic, for a number of reasons, principally the reluctance of the older children to use what they consider to be a seat suitable only for young children.

A further problem with the use of booster seats is that the seats require stowing in, or removing from, the vehicle when an adult wishes to use the seat.

A yet further problem is that a parent must buy a number of booster seats to suit the various children who may use the car. Indeed over time as the child grows it is likely that multiple CRS will need to be purchased only to later to become redundant when the child outgrows the child seat.

It is known to provide integral booster cushions which are generally in the form of a section of the standard seat base that can be selectively raised to align the occupants shoulder correctly with respect to the anchor points of the seatbelt. These booster seats also have a seat base that has a shorter length than the standard rear seat of the vehicle thereby ensuring that the length of the seat base is appropriate to the thigh length of its occupants.

However, there are problems associated with this inbuilt or integrated type of booster s seat. Firstly, the seats generally operate by lifting a cushion area upwards and sometimes additionally backwards from its storage position which is flush with the base area of the standard vehicle seat. This results in an area at the front of the standard seat which is positioned in front of and below the booster seat. This can often be uncomfortable for the occupant, especially larger children who have longer legs.

It is an object of the present invention to at least mitigate some of the above problems.

For the avoidance of doubt, the terms adult seat, standard seat and passenger seat refer to a vehicle seat configured in the vehicle for adult occupants. The terms child seat and child restraint system (CRS) refer to the seat or those parts of the vehicle seat provided or adapted for younger children.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat for a vehicle comprising a seat back and a seat base, the seat base defining, at least in part, a seat portion for an occupant, wherein the seat back is movable relative to the seat base between a stowed position and a deployed position, such that the length of the seat base is effectively reduced when the seat back is in the deployed position.

Advantageously, this feature of the current invention allows the child seat back to be brought forward relative to the back of the vehicle seat. This reduces the distance from the child seat back to the front of the vehicle seat. This in turn makes the child seat more comfortable, and safer, for children who naturally have a shorter thigh length than adults.

In an example, the seat back is substantially vertical.

In an example, the seat base is substantially horizontal.

In an example, the seat base is movable relative to the seat between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the deployed position is arranged above the stowed position.

The raising of the seat base allows the seat to accommodate younger children who naturally have a shorter hip to shoulder length than larger children. This allows the seat to position the child's shoulder close to the upper belt anchorage or D' loop, thereby io improving the safety of the child seat.

In an example, the seat back comprises a lumbar support and a back support, the lumbar support being pivotable relative to the back support such that the lumbar support pivots when the seat back and seat base are in their respective deployed positions so is that the back support of the seat back and the seat base are adjacent one another.

This feature allows the child seat to be deployed in a number of different configurations depending on the age, size and dimensions of the child. This greatly improves the flexibility and longevity of the child seat, an important issue in a solution which is integrated into the vehicle during manufacture.

In an example, the lumbar support pivots rearwardly relative to the back support to enable the back support and seat base to be positioned adjacent one another.

2S In an example, rotation of the lumbar support is resiliently biased towards its forward position.

In an example, the seat back is slidable relative to the seat in a substantially horizontal direction.

In an example, the seat base is moveable relative to the seat by way of a four-bar linkage. In another example, the four-bar linkage goes over-centre when moving the seat base between its deployed and stowed positions.

In an example, the back support further comprises a belt guide attached thereto for receiving a seatbelt. In a further example, the belt guide is slidably mounted so as to be adjustable by the user.

In an example, the position of the belt guide is adjustable between at least a first io position and a second position, wherein the first position is configured for use when the seat back is in the stowed position and the second position is configured for use when the seat back is in the deployed position In an example, the belt guide is adapted to, in use, anchor the seatbelt at a position is substantially adjacent the occupant's shoulder.

In an example, the back support further comprises a head restraint.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the child seat of the present invention may be suitable for use in applications unrelated to vehicles.

It will also be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the preferred and/or optional features relating to the present invention may be used either alone or in appropriate combination.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known rear passenger vehicle seat with a standard child booster seat as known in the art; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a passenger vehicle rear seat assembly including the child seat of the present invention; Figure 3A is a sectioned side view of the child seat of Figure 2 showing the child seat s back and the child seat base in the stowed position; Figure 3B is a perspective view of the child seat in its Figure 3A position; Figure 4A is a sectioned side view of the child seat of Figure 2 showing the child seat io back in the deployed position and the child seat base in the stowed position; Figure 4B is a perspective view of the child seat in its Figure 4A position; Figure 5A is a sectioned side view of the child seat of Figure 2 showing the child seat is back in the stowed position and the child seat base in the deployed position; Figure 5B is an isometric view of the child seat in its Figure 5A position; Figure 6A is a sectioned side view of the child seat of Figure 2 showing the child seat back in the deployed position and the child seat base in the deployed position; Figure 6B is a perspective view of the child seat in its Figure 6A position; Figure 7A is a sectioned view of the child seat in its Figure 4A position showing the child seat back mechanism; Figure 7B is a sectioned view of the mechanism of Figure 7A showing the child seat back mechanism in greater detail; Figure 8A is a sectioned view of the child seat in its Figure 6A position showing the child seat base mechanism; and Figure 8B is a sectioned view of the mechanism of Figure 8A showing the child seat base mechanism in greater detail.

Referring to Figure 1, a known passenger vehicle seat assembly 1 is shown having a seat base 2 and a seat back 3. Positioned on the seat assembly 1 is a known child booster seat 4 which is affixed to the seat assembly 1 in a known manner, such as by ISOFIX anchorages, or securing the seat 4 using the vehicle seatbelt (not shown for clarity). This arrangement has the clear disadvantage that the child booster seat 4 must be removed in order to allow an adult to use the passenger seat.

In Figure 2, a passenger vehicle seat assembly 10 of the current invention is shown having a seat base 12 and a seat back 14. The assembly 10 is provided with a child restraint system in the form of child seat indicated generally at 20. The child seat has a child seat base 22 and a child seat back 24.

Referring now to Figures 3A and 3B, the child seat 20 is shown in further detail. The child seat back 24 has a head restraint 30, an upper back support 28 and a lumbar support 26 pivotable relative to the upper back support 28, as will be discussed in further detail shortly. In Figure 3A and 3B the child seat base 22 and a child seat back 24 are both in their respective stowed positions in which they are flush with the outer face of the passenger vehicle seat assembly 10. With the child seat base 22 and a child seat back 24 in the stowed position 24A the seat assembly 10 may be used by an adult as if it were a standard vehicle seat.

In Figures 4A and 4B the child seat back 24 has been moved from its stowed position 24A to its deployed position 24B. The child seat back 24 has accordingly moved away from the seat back 14 in a substantially horizontal direction to bring the child seat back 24 closer to the front of the seat base 12. Thus the thigh length A of the child seat 20 is reduced to accommodate older children who have a sufficiently long torso to position their shoulder at the correct position for the seatbelt but who would otherwise find the position of the seat shown in Figures 3A and 3B uncomfortable. In other words the thigh length A and the hip to shoulder length B are matched to the child occupant. The lumbar support 26 is shown mounted on the upper back support 28 by a pivot 130. Accordingly the lumbar support 26 is able to rotate about the pivot relative to the back support 28.

The lumbar support 26 is resiliently biased by a spring (not shown for clarity) in a forwards direction so as to urge the lumbar support 26 into its position shown in Figure 3A and 3B. The purpose of this rotation will now be discussed in relation to Figures 5A and 5B.

In Figures 5A and 5B the child seat base 22 has been moved from its stowed position 22A to its deployed position 22B. In doing so, the rear of the child seat base 22 has engaged the lumbar support 26 causing it to rotate a about the pivot l3Oin a rearward direction. This has the effect of further reducing the thigh length from A as shown in Figure 4A to A' whilst simultaneously reducing the hip to shoulder length from B as shown in Figure 4A to B'. Thus, the child seat 20 is now able to accommodate a smaller child.

The final configuration of the child seat 20 is shown in Figures 6A and 6B in which the child seat back 24 has been returned to its stowed position. In this configuration a relatively long thigh length A" is provided with a reduced hip to shoulder length B" similar to that shown in the Figures 5A and 5B.

In use the child seat 20 is moveable between the four configuration described above in respect of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. The mechanism by which this change in configuration is achieved will now be described with reference to Figures 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B.

Referring initially to Figure 7A, the child seat 20 is shown with the child seat back 24 in the deployed position indicated generally at 24B. Supporting the child seat back 24 in this position is a seat back mechanism indicated generally at 34. The seat back mechanism 34 has two opposing scissor arms 36 which are pivoted at their upper ends about the child seat back 24 and the seat back 14 respectively. A corresponding pair of arms is also provided on the opposite side of the seat but is not shown for clarity. The arms are rotatably connected at a fulcrum 38. The lower ends of the arms 36 each carry a pin 37 which is arranged in a slot 40 in the child seat back 24 and the seat back 14 respectively. With the child seat back 24 in its deployed position 24B the pins 37 are arranged at the top of the slots 40. Upon moving the child seat back 24 from its deployed position 24B to its stowed position 24A, the pins 37 move down the slots 40 to bring the arms 36 towards one another. In this way the child seat back 24 is movable in a substantially horizontal direction.

Referring now to Figure 7B which shows the slot 40 in the seat back 14 in greater detail, the slot carries a deployed switch 42 and a stowed switch 44 at opposite ends of the slot. When the child seat back 24 is in its deployed position 24B the pin 37 of the arm 36 contacts the switch 42 which trips the switch and sends a signal to a controller which is not shown for clarity. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a number of is different types of switch could be used including for example, a mechanical switch, or hall sensor, without departure from the invention. The controller then illuminates an indicator 46 (see Figure 7A) arranged on the seat to inform the user that the seat is safe to use. It will be appreciated that other forms of indicator could be used, for example an audible alarm, without departure from the invention. The indicator has two parts which allow the engagement of the two arms to be monitored individually. Conversely the stowed sensor 44 allows the indicator 46 to signal that the child seat back 24 is safely stowed 24A. In addition, or in the alternative, to the deployed and stowed switches 44, 46, the slots also have a linear position sensor 48 which tracks the position of the pin 37 in the slot 40 and sends a corresponding position signal to the controller. This signal is then be used to indicate safe stowing or deployment of the child seat back 24. In addition, or in the alternative, to the deployed and stowed switches 44, 46, the slots comprise Hall-effect sensors to determine when the pins 37 have reached the positions corresponding to fully stowed 24A or fully deployed 24B positions.

In Figure 8A, the child seat base 22 is shown in its deployed position 22B. Supporting the child seat base 22 in this position is a seat base mechanism indicated generally at 148. The seat base mechanism 148 has two supporting arms 50 which are pivoted at their upper ends on the child seat base 22 and at their lower ends on the seat base 12.

A corresponding pair of arms 50 is also provided on the opposite side of the seat but is not shown for clarity. The arms 50 allow the child seat base 22 to be moved from its stowed position into the over-centre deployed position shown in Figure 8A. By taking the mechanism over-centre in deploying the child seat base 22, the seat is urged by the arms 50 to remain in the deployed position thereby increasing the safety of the child seat.

io Referring to Figure 8B shows a lower end of the arm 50 in greater detail. The seat base mechanism is provided with a pair of switches of similar design to switches 44, 46, shown as deployed switch 52 and stowed switch 54. Deployed switch 52 and stowed switch 54 are shown mechanically grounded to the seat base 12 for signalling to the controller that the child seat base 22 is in the deployed position 22B. The corresponding is stowed switch 54 is also provided to signal safe stowing of the child seat base 22 to a stowed position 22A. An indicator 56 is provided on the seat base 12 to indicate safe stowing 22A or deployment 22B to the user.

It will be appreciated that the indication provided to the user via indicators 46, 56 may be repeated to a an auxiliary indicator located elsewhere within the vehicle such as adjacent to an instrument cluster on an instrument panel at the front of the occupant compartment. In this way, the driver may be kept informed as to the configuration of the or each child seat and notified of any change in configuration status which may require attention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A seat for a vehicle comprising a seat back and a seat base, the seat base defining, at least in part, a seat portion for an occupant, wherein the seat back is movable relative to the seat base between a stowed position and a deployed position such that the length of the seat portion is effectively reduced when the seat back is in the deployed position.
2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seat back is substantially vertical.
3. The seat of claim 1 or 2 wherein the seat base is substantially horizontal.
4. The seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat base is movable relative to the seat between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the deployed position is arranged above the stowed position.
5. The seat of claim 4 wherein the seat back comprises a lumbar support and a back support, the lumbar support being pivotable relative to the back support such that the lumbar support pivots when the seat back and seat base are in their respective deployed positions so that the back support of the seat back and the seat base are adjacent one another.
6. The seat of claim 5 wherein the lumbar support pivots rearwardly relative to the back support to enable the back support and seat base to be positioned adjacent one another.
7. The seat of claim 5 or 6 wherein rotation of the lumbar support is resiliently biased towards its forward position.
8. The seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat back is slidable relative to the seat in a substantially horizontal direction.
9. The seat of claim 4 wherein the seat base is moveable relative to the seat by way of a four-bar linkage.
1O.The seat of claim 9 wherein the four-bar linkage goes over-centre when moving the seat base between its deployed and stowed positions.
11.The seat of claim 5 wherein the back support further comprises a belt guide attached thereto for receiving a seatbelt.
12.The seat of claim 11 wherein the position of the belt guide is adjustable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is is configured for use when the seat back is in the stowed position and the second position is configured for use when the seat back is in the deployed position.
13. The seat of claim 1 wherein the back support further comprises a head restraint.