GB2588664A

GB2588664A - Car seat converter

Info

Publication number: GB2588664A
Application number: GB1915871.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Javade Mughal Wassim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-31
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-31
Also published as: GB2588664B; GB201915871D0

Abstract

Apparatus 100 for securing multiple child safety seats has an elongate structure 10 with slots extending along its length, and connectors 30 (e.g. ISOFIX) to releasably secure the structure 10 to first anchoring points of a vehicle slidable in a first slot 40, and second anchoring points 20 to releasably secure child seats to the structure 10 slidable in the second slot 50 so that the connectors 30 and second anchoring points 20 positions are independently adjustable along the length of the structure 10. The structure can be extruded aluminium with a base that rests on vehicle rear seats and T-shaped slots. The second anchoring points 20 can be a ring or bar to anchor a seat. The connectors 30 and second anchoring points 20 can lock to the structure 10. The apparatus allows three child seats to two pairs of ISOFIX anchoring points on a vehicle.

Description

CAR SEAT CONVERTER

The present invention relates to an apparatus for fitting car seats to a vehicle, particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus for converting two sets/pairs of ISOFIX anchoring points which are built-in to a chassis of a car into three sets/pairs of ISOFIX anchoring points for fitting three ordinary ISOFIX car seats.

ISOFIX is a well-known international standard of attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars. It is essentially an attachment system which is designed to fix suitable child seats to anchoring points that are anchored to the chassis of a vehicle.

Systems aiming to solve the problem of increasing space efficiency in the rear seats of a car, for example by moving a specific seat frame laterally with respect to built-in ISOFIX anchoring points, are generally known. However, such systems commonly require rather complex mechanisms or special seat arrangements.

Currently, most cars provide an ISOFIX connection system that has two sets of ISOFIX anchoring points, thus allowing only two car seats to be fitted thereto.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple apparatus for fitting up to three ordinary car seats to two available sets of built-in ISOFIX anchoring points.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for fitting one or more baby/child safety seats to first anchoring points which are fixed permanently to a chassis of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: -2 -a single unitary elongate structure for positioning along the length of rear seats of a vehicle, the structure comprising a first slot and a second slot each extending substantially along the length of the structure, one or more connectors for releasably securing the structure to the first anchoring points, and one or more second anchoring points for releasably securing one or more child seats to the structure, wherein the one or more connectors are slidably mounted in the first slot and the one or more second anchoring points are slidably mounted in the second slot such that the lateral positions of the one or more connectors and second anchoring points are independently adjustable from one to another substantially along the length of the structure.

As will be appreciated, the expression "unitary" is intended to mean that the structure is provided as a single component, rather than as plural components which must then be assembled together.

The unitary structure may be an extruded profile. The structure is preferably made of aluminium, although other suitable materials including metals and composite materials may be used.

The structure may have a base which, in use, is configured to rest on and across the rear seat base.

The structure may have a fixed length. The structure preferably spans/extends substantially along the entire transverse length/width of the rear seats of a vehicle. This is in the direction from door to door.

The structure may be extendable/retractable to span across the length of one or more rear seats, thus allowing improved flexibility, portability and storage. -3 -

An extendable or deployable linkage arrangement such as a telescopic arrangement or the like may be used to extend or retract the structure.

In embodiments, the structure may be a polyhedron, preferably a right-angle prism. The face opposite the right angle is preferably curved or arch 5 shaped. The structure may be hollow.

The structure may have a first (rear) side facing rearwardly towards the first anchoring points, and a second (front) side facing forwardly away from the first anchoring points. Preferably, the first (rear) slot is defined on the first side and the second (front) slot is defined on the second side, such that the rear and front slots are oriented in opposite directions.

In embodiments, the one or more connectors may comprise one or more first sliding members which are slidably mounted in the first slot. Preferably, each of the one or more connectors comprises one first sliding member.

The one or more connectors may comprise one or more latching arms for releasably securing the structure to one or more first anchoring points Preferably, each of the one or more connectors comprises one latching arm.

The one or more second anchoring points may comprise one or more second sliding members which are slidably mounted in the second slot. Preferably, each of the one or more second anchoring points comprises one 20 second sliding member.

The one or more second anchoring points may further comprise one or more seat anchoring bars or rings which are fixed to the one or more second sliding members. -4 -

Preferably each of the one or more second anchoring points may comprise one bar or ring. The bar is preferably made of metal, although other suitable materials may be used.

The first and second slots may be generally T-shaped, although different shapes are also applicable. The first and second sliding members may be suitably shaped to be slidably arranged in the rear and front slots respectively.

As will also be appreciated, there may be either one-to-one or one-to-many relationships between the first sliding members and latching arms, and between the second sliding members and second anchoring points. For example, a 10 connector may comprise one first sliding member which is fixed to one or more latching arms for fixing the structure to one or more first anchoring points. Equally, a second anchoring point may comprise one second sliding member which is fixed to one or more anchoring bars for fitting one or more child seats thereto. The connectors may have suitable visual/audio means to indicate when the latching arms are correctly fitted to the anchoring points.

The one or more first and second sliding members may comprise securing/locking means to secure respectively the one or more connectors and second anchoring points at selected locations along the structure, preferably each of the one or more first and second sliding members comprises one locking means. Locking means may include for example screws, bolts, quarter-turn hammer head (T-slot) nuts, friction-fit means, or the like, but other suitable securing means may be deployed.

The apparatus of the present invention may be configured to fit three child seats in the rear seats of a vehicle to two sets of first anchoring points. Preferably, -5 -three ordinary child seats are fitted to three sets of second anchoring points, whilst two sets of connectors securely latch the structure to two pairs/sets of first anchoring points The second anchoring points which are positioned approximately around the centre of the structure are preferably fixed.

The vehicle is preferably a passenger car.

Preferably, the one or more first and second anchoring points are ISOFIX anchoring points, the one or more connectors are ISOFIX connectors, and the one or more car child seats are ISOFIX ordinary car seats.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is also suitable for fitting ISOFIT child safety seats.

By providing separate rear and front slots which are spanning along the entire length of the structure respectively at the rear and front sides of the structure and a plurality of ISOFIX connectors and seat's ISOFIX anchoring points which are at least partially slidably slotted respectively in the rear and front slots, ISOFIX connectors and seat's ISOFIX anchoring points can be positioned independently from one to another substantially along the entire length of the structure. As a result, ordinary ISOFIX child seats can be easily mounted and independently positioned at any lateral positions across the entire width of the rear seats regardless of the position of the built-in ISOFIX anchoring points, thus allowing improved flexibility and space efficiency.

Advantageously, the apparatus of the present invention allows a central/middle car seat to be conveniently fitted in most cars having ISOFIX anchoring points that are built-in on the two side rear seats only. -6 -

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention can be rapidly and easily manufactured and assembled for use, and rapidly and easily adjusted to fit ordinary ISOFIX car seats.

The present invention therefore provides an easy solution for converting/extending two existing sets of built-in ISOFIX anchoring points to three sets of ISOFIX anchoring points for fitting three ordinary ISOFIX safety child seats in most cars.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in /0 which: Figure 1 shows a perspective front view and an enlarged detail view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective back view and an enlarged detail view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective front exploded view and an enlarged detail view of an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a perspective back exploded view and an enlarged detail view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 1 to 4 show an apparatus 100 comprising a single elongate unitary 20 structure 10, together with four ISOFIX connectors 30 which are designed to releasably secure four built-in car ISOFIX anchoring bars (not shown), and six seat ISOFIX anchoring points 20 for releasably fitting three ISOFIX child seats. The four (two sets of two) ISOFIX connectors 30 are fixed respectively to four (two sets) car ISOFIX anchoring points, and the six (three sets of two) seat -7 -ISOFIX anchoring points 20 are fixed in pairs respectively to three ISOFIX car seats.

The structure 10 is an extruded profile having five surfaces/sides, namely: base 35, front 55, rear 45, and two end 65. Each of the base 35, front 55, and rear 45 extends continuously along the entire length of the structure, whereas the ends 65 are located respectively at both ends of the structure. A single surface extending continuously around the structure may alternatively be used.

In this embodiment, the structure 10 is hollow. A hole 70 spans substantially through the entire length 1' of the structure.

The cross-section of the structure is generally a right-angled triangle. The face opposite the right angle may be curved, preferably arch shaped (see front 55). The vertexes of the cross-section are generally rounded to avoid sharp edges Covers 60 are releasably attached to the ends 65. A brand name or logo 15 may be displayed on the covers.

In use, the structure is positioned on the rear seats such that the base 35 rests on a base of the rear seats and the rear 45 extends substantially parallel and adjacent to the backrest of the seat A first (rear) slot 40 is defined on the rear 45 and a second (front) slot 50 is defined on the front 55. Each slot 40, 50 extends substantially across the entire length 'L' of the structure, and is substantially T-shaped.

A connector 30 is slidably mounted in the rear slot 40. Each connector 30 comprises a first slot profile 31 that is slotted in the rear slot 40. -8 -

Figure 2 shows a latching arm 32 that is attached to the first slot profile 31 and is configured to clip to the respective car ISOFIX anchoring point.

A bushing 33 abuts the first slot profile 31 to provide an interface between the structure 10 and each connector 30. The bushing 33 is substantially a flat squared plate or rounded disk with a central opening for receiving a latching arm 32 therein. The bushing 33 is preferably made of rubber, but other suitable materials can be used such that loads can be distributed evenly, and the energy transmitted through the bushing can be suitably damped.

The seat's ISOFIX anchoring points 20 are slidably mounted in the front slot 50. Each pair of seat anchoring points 20 is configured to releasably receive the ISOFIX connectors of an ordinary ISOFIX child seat.

Each of the seat's anchoring points 20 comprises a second slot profile 21 which is slidably mounted in the front slot 50. The second slot profile 21 is a curved profile and is received into the curved front side 55. A pair of lips 22 projecting outwardly from the slot profile 21 are configured to support a bar or ring 23 to releasably lock an ISOFIX connector of a car seat thereto. The bar is preferably made of metal, but other suitable materials can be used.

The connectors 30 and seat's anchoring points 20 are selectively and independently adjustable at any locations along the length L' of the structure.

The connectors 30 and/or seats anchoring points 20 can be locked at selected positions by suitable locking means. The central pair of seat anchoring points 20 are preferably fixed.

In use, once the ISOFIX connectors are clicked together with the two seat ISOFIX anchoring points, an ISOFIX car seat may need to be secured by a third -9 -point in order to prevent the car seat tipping forward. Typically, this third point can either be a support leg which is built into the seat or seat base, or a top tether which may be for example a strap that attaches to a mount which is located somewhere behind the rear seats.

Claims

-10 -CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for securing one or more child safety seats to first anchoring points which are fixed to a chassis of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a single unitary elongate structure for positioning along the length of rear seats of a vehicle, the structure comprising a first slot and a second slot each extending substantially along the length of the structure, one or more connectors for releasably securing the structure to the first anchoring points, and one or more second anchoring points for releasably securing one or more /0 child seats to the structure, wherein the one or more connectors are slidably mounted in the first slot and the one or more second anchoring points are slidably mounted in the second slot such that the positions of the one or more connectors and of the one or more second anchoring points are independently adjustable from one to another /5 substantially along the length of the structure.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure has a base which is configured to rest in use on and across a base of the rear seats.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the structure spans substantially along the entire length of the rear seats.
4. An apparatus as claimed in in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the structure is an extruded profile, preferably made of aluminium.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the structure has a first side which in use is positioned so as to face rearwardly towards the first anchoring points, and a second side which in use is positioned so as to face forwardly away from the first anchoring points.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first slot is defined on the first side, and the second slot is defined on the second side.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the first and second slots are generally T-shaped.
8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, the one or more connectors comprise one or more first sliding members which are slidably mounted in the first slot, preferably wherein each of the one or more connectors comprises one first sliding member.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the one or more connectors comprise one or more latching arms for releasably securing the structure to one or more first anchoring points, preferably wherein each of the one or more connectors comprises one latching arm.
10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the one or more second anchoring points comprise one or more second sliding -12 -members that are slidably mounted in the second slot, preferably each of the one or more second anchoring points comprises one second sliding member.
11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the one or more second anchoring points further comprises one or more seat anchoring bars which are fixed to the one or more second sliding members, preferably each of the one or more second anchoring points comprises one bar or ring.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the one or more first and second sliding members comprise locking means to secure respectively the one or more connectors and second anchoring points at selected locations along the structure, preferably each of the one or more first and second sliding members comprises one locking means.
13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is configured to fit three child seats in the rear seats by using two available sets of first anchoring points; preferably, three child seats are fitted to three sets of the second anchoring points, whilst two sets of connectors fix the structure to two sets of first anchoring points.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is a passenger car.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more first and second anchoring points are ISOFIX anchoring points, the one or more connectors are ISOFIX connectors, and the one or more child seats are ordinary ISOFIX child seats.