WO2012033438A1

WO2012033438A1 - Bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat

Info

Publication number: WO2012033438A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/000158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christer LÖNN
Original assignee: Loenn Christer
Priority date: 2010-09-07
Filing date: 2011-09-06
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: SE535610C2; SE1000907A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat (45). It is significant for the bracket in accordance with the present invention that it comprises a frame (5; 105) that can be converted from an inactive state to an active state, that a hinge (10; 110) that is stationary relative to the vehicle body is included in the bracket, that the frame (5; 105) can pivot around this hinge (10; 110) during the conversion from the inactive to the active state, and that the bracket comprises support members (7; 107) for fixing the frame (5; 105) in the active state, and that the child safety seat (45) can be anchored to the frame (5) present in the active state.

Description

BRACKET FOR A REARWARD-FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Technical field of the invention

The present invention refers to a bracket for a

rearward-facing child safety seat.

State of the art

When known art is concerned for fastening rearward- facing child safety seats, different types of strap

arrangements are used, whereby the one ends of the straps are anchored in the child safety seat and the other ends of the straps are anchored in the vehicle body, whereby existing screws/bolts already present in the vehicle are often used. In addition to the fact that the fastening with a strap

arrangement is time-consuming, the elasticity that is

generally found in straps brings it about that the vehicle's deformation zones are not optimally utilized.

Objects and features of the invention

A primary object of the present invention is to indicate a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat which bracket can assume a folded-together position and a folded-out position.

A further object of the present invention is that the bracket should be able to be converted between a folded- together position and a folded-out position in an extremely user-friendly manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is that the mounting of a child safety seat on the bracket can take place in an extremely user-friendly manner.

A further object of the present invention is that in accordance with a preferred embodiment the child safety seat should be able to be disassembled to mainly flat components.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realized by an arrangement that obtains the characteristics indicated in the following independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims .

RECORD COPY-TRANSLATION

(Rule 12,4) Brief description of the drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference made to the attached drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a part of a vehicle

compartment in which a central console with a folded- together bracket in accordance with the present invention assumes a normal position between the front seats ;

Fig. 2 shows a corresponding side view of the one in Fig. 1, in which the central console is displaced to a back position and forms a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the central console in accordance with the present invention in an initial position, i.e., with the bracket in a folded-together position;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of the central console in accordance with Fig. 3 in which a lid of the central console is folded up for access to a storage space in the central console;

Fig. 5 shows a plane view of a support arrangement for the central console, whereby the central console can be displaced along the support arrangement;

Fig. 6 shows a side view of the support arrangement in

accordance with Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows an end view of the central console when it is supported by the support arrangement;

Fig. 8 shows an end view of a detail of cooperating parts between the central console and the support

arrangement;

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of the constructive formation of a lock arrangement;

Fig. 10 shows a side view of a bracket in accordance with the present invention and a rearward-facing child safety seat during a preparatory phase for mounting the child safety seat on the bracket;

Fig. 11 shows a side view of a rearward-facing child safety seat mounted on the bracket forming part of the central console; Fig. 12 schematically shows the constructive formation of a blocking member;

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a child safety seat

provided to be mounted on the bracket forming part of the central console;

Fig. 14 shows a first gable element that forms part of the

child safety seat in accordance with Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 shows a seat back element forming part of the child

safety seat in accordance with Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 shows another gable element forming part of the child safety seat in accordance with Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 schematically shows the constituting parts of the

coupling for parts for a child safety seat;

Fig. 18 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a

bracket in accordance with the present invention that is located in a folded-together position;

Fig. 19 shows the bracket according to Fig. 18 in a folded-out position; and

Fig. 20 shows the bracket according to Fig. 18 and 19 in a

folded-out position supporting a child safety seat, whereby the placing of the bracket in the dashboard of the car is also schematically shown.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The first embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the present invention is placed in a central console that is normally placed between the front seats in a vehicle. This is schematically shown in Fig. 1. The central console can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and Fig. 2 schematically shows how the central console is

displaced to a back position and that the central console has been converted to form a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat.

Fig. 3 and 4 show side views of a central console in accordance with the present invention. The central console comprises a lower container part 1, three frames 3, 5, 7 arranged above each other and a lid 9 arranged above the upper/third frame 7. Frames 3, 5, 7 have a rectangular form. Frames 3, 5, 7 form the bracket themselves and are preferably manufactured from rectangular profiles of metal/steel. The lower/first frame 3 is permanently fastened to the upper end of container part 1, whereby a storage space is defined within container part 1. The intermediate/second frame 5 is

pivotably connected to the lower/first frame 3 via a first hinge 10, whereby the first hinge 10 is located at the other end of the central console which faces toward the back in the vehicle. The upper/third frame 7 is pivotably connected to the lower/first frame 3 via a second hinge 11 and an intermediate part 12. The second hinge 11 is located at the end of the central console which faces to the front in the vehicle. The lid 9 is pivotably fastened via the third hinge 13 to the upper/third frame 7, whereby the third hinge 13 is located at the end of the central console that faces toward the back in the vehicle.

Fig. 4 illustrates the normal usage of the central console, i.e., as a storage space, whereby lid 9 is pivoted to the open position for access to the storage space defined inside container part 1.

When the central console is to be used/converted to a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat, the middle console is displaced to the back in the vehicle from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5-8 show a support arrangement 15 for the central console, whereby the support arrangement comprises two

parallel rails 16 that are constituted in accordance with the embodiment shown by rectangular profiles. As is apparent from Fig. 6, each of rails 16 is provided with a longitudinal slot 17 extending in principle along the entire shown length of rails 16.

Two transverse elements 18 and 19 connect the rails 16 to one another and ensure that they run parallel to one another. The first transverse element 18 defines the back end of support arrangement 15. The front end of support

arrangement is not shown in Fig. 5 and 6 since this end can be formed in different manners based on the vehicle model.

Normally, the front end of the support arrangement 15 is located in the area of the vehicle's gear selector. A longitudinally extended locking element 20 extends between the transverse elements 18, 19 and is provided with a number of first holes 21 whose function will be explained below.

The rails 16 are shown in an end view in Fig. 7 and 8.

Rotatable rollers 25 are mounted on the bottom of the central console, whereby the rollers 25 roll along the top of the rails 16 when the central console is displaced along the support arrangement 15. The central console is anchored vertically via the container part 1 in that a further

rectangular profile 23 that can shift in an associated rail 16 is connected to the central console via a screw connection 24. The central console is provided with a locking member 26 that is designed to cooperate with the locking element 20 in order to form a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement is described in detail in Fig. 9. The locking member 26 built into the central console comprises a first locking piston 27 that can shift in its longitudinal direction relative to a casing 28 that is fixed relative to the central console. The first locking piston 27 is provided at the bottom with an engagement member 29 designed to be taken up in one of the first holes 21 in locking element 20. In the area of the upper ends of the first locking piston 27 and of the casing 28 a first pressure spring 30 is arranged that exerts a downwardly directed force on the first locking piston 27, i.e., the first pressure spring 30 tries to shift the first locking piston 27 downward relative to the casing 28. The locking member 26 also comprises a wire 31 or the like that extends between the upper end of the first locking piston 27 and the first lifting member 32 which is built according to the embodiment shown in the central console. The ends of the wire 31 are provided with beads 33, 34. The lifting member 32 comprises a handle 35 that can be displaced upward against the action of a second pressure spring 36. When lifting member 32 is activated, the handle 35 is displaced upward and the wire 31 with beads 33, 34 imparts a shift upward relative to the casing 28 to the first locking piston 27, during which engagement member 29 is separated from one of the first holes 21 in the locking element 20 and the central console is released relative to the support arrangement 15, i.e. the central console can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the support

arrangement 15. When the central console is locked, the locking piston is displaced downward by the first pressure spring 30 in such a manner that a cooperation is established between one of the first holes 21 in the locking element 20 and the engagement member 29.

When the central console is to be used as a bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat, the central console is displaced to its backmost position, see Fig. 2, 10 and 11, whereby the intermediate/second frame 5 is converted to a folded-up position, i.e., the intermediate/second frame 5 swung around the first hinge 10. Fig. 10A shows a perspective view of the intermediate/second frame 5, where it is apparent that the intermediate/second frame 5 comprises two side pieces 5A, a top piece 5B and a bottom piece 5C. As is apparent from Fig. 10, 10A and 11, the intermediate/second frame 5 is provided with two first hooks 40, each of which is attached to its side piece 5A and extends out from the main plane of the intermediate/second frame 5 in the direction away from the side of the intermediate/second frame 5 that is to support the rearward-facing child safety seat, see Fig. 11. According to the embodiment shown, the first hooks 40 are displaced towards the top piece 5B of the intermediate/second frame 5.

As is apparent from Fig. 10 and 11, the upper/third frame 7 was also converted to a folded-up position, i.e., the upper/third frame 7 was swung around the second hinge 11.

Fig. 11 schematically shows how the intermediate/second frame 5 is brought into a cooperation with the upper/third frame 7, during which the first hooks 40 in the intermediate/second frame 5 are brought into engagement with the upper end in the upper/third frame 7, i.e., the first hooks 40 support the upper end/a top piece of the upper/third frame 7 that

functions as a support member for the intermediate/second frame 5.

As is apparent from Fig. 10 and 11, a rearward-facing child safety seat B is mounted on the bracket, i.e., upon the side of the bottom/first frame 5 which is turned away from the intermediate/second frame 7. Fig. 10 shows a side view of a child safety seat 45 that is designed to be able to be mounted on the described bracket. The child safety seat according to Fig. 10 comprises a seat for the child. The child safety seat can preferably be disassembled into a number of components. This will be

described in more detail below.

The child safety seat 45 shown in Fig. 10 and 11 is provided on its back side with members that make it possible for it to be mounted on the bracket shown in Fig. 10 and 11. Thus, the child safety seat is provided on its back side with two other hooks 46 of which only the one is visible in Fig. 10 and 11. An angle-iron (not visible) is arranged between hooks 46, which angle-iron is designed to receive forces laterally. The two other hooks 46 are arranged at a mutual distance that corresponds in principle to the inside width of the

bottom/first frame 5 or drops somewhat below this width. An angle-iron 47 is arranged on the back side of the child safety seat, which angle-iron 47 comprises a flange 48 projecting from the back side of the child safety seat 45. A blocking member 50 is arranged above the angle-iron 47 and has the task of locking the child safety seat 45 firmly against the

intermediate/second frame 5. The blocking member 50 is shown in more detail in Fig. 12. The blocking member 50 comprises a second locking piston 51 that can shift in a second casing 52 that is mounted on the back side of the child safety seat 45 via a number of rectangular profiles 53. The lower free end of the second locking piston 51 is bevelled. A second wire 54 extends from an upper part of the second locking piston 51, through its end, through the upper part of the second casing 52 and inside a wire covering 55, from the second casing 52 to a second handle 56. Inside the second locking piston 51 the second wire 54 is provided with a bead 57 and in association with the second handle 56 the second wire 54 is anchored with another bead 58. Inside the upper part of the second casing 52 a third pressure spring 59 is arranged that exerts a downwardly directed force on the second locking piston 51.

The second handle 56 can be displaced upward relative to the back side of the child safety seat from an initial position, in which a fourth pressure spring 60 exerts a downwardly directed force on handle 56.

During the mounting of the child safety seat 45 on the bracket the second hooks 46 are shifted into the

intermediate/second frame 5 and the second hooks 46 come to rest against bottom piece 5C at the intermediate/second frame 5. The second part of the child safety seat 45 is now swung in towards the upper part of the intermediate/second frame 5, during which the bevelled end of the second locking piston 51 comes in contact with upper piece 5B at the

intermediate/second frame 5. The bevelled end brings it about that the second locking piston 51 is displaced upward during a further swinging in of the child safety seat 45 against the intermediate/second frame 5. The second locking piston 51 can pass top piece 5B here at the intermediate/second frame 5 and when the back side of the child safety seat 45 comes to rest against the intermediate second frame 5 the second locking piston 51 is displaced by the third pressure spring 59 down on the outside of top piece 5B at the intermediate/second frame 5. This is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 11 and 12. The child safety seat 45 is securely anchored therewith on the intermediate/second frame 5. In association with the fact that the child safety seat 45 comes to rest against the upper part of the intermediate/second frame 5 the flange 48 is shifted at angle-iron 47 in between the side pieces 5A at the intermediate/second frame 5, during which the flange 48 is located in the absolute vicinity of top piece 5B at the intermediate/second frame 5. As is most clearly apparent from Fig. 12, flange 48 comes to rest against the top side of the third hinge 13. This creates a locking of the resting of the upper/third frame 7 against the first hooks 40. Since the flange 48 has a width that corresponds in principle to the inside width of the intermediate/second frame 5 and the flange 48 extends into the intermediate/second frame 5, flange 48 comes to receive any lateral forces that act on the

intermediate/second frame 5.

The child safety seat 45 is preferably composed of a number of parts that can be separated from each other and thus take up considerably less space than the child safety seat that is assembled together.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the assembled child safety seat 45. Fig. 14-16 show the parts that form the child safety seat 45, whereby Fig. 14 shows a first gable element 65, Fig. 15 shows a back seat element 66 and Fig. 16 shows a second gable element 67. Back seat element 66 is provided with a number of male parts 68 that are designed to be taken up in female parts 69 at gable elements 65, 67, whereby a male part 68 and a female part 69 enter into a coupling that will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 17 schematically shows a male part 68 and a female part 69 in a coupling that is designed to join together the above-described parts of the child safety seat 45. The male part 68 comprises a first tube 70 and a blocking element 71 arranged inside the first tube 70, which blocking element shifts up through first opening 72 in the first tube 70. The blocking element 71 is generally triangular and is supported by a leaf spring 73 which is anchored on the inside of the first tube 70. A fifth pressure spring 74 causes blocking element 71 to partially project out through the first opening. The male part 68 also comprises a second hole 75 for access to the leaf spring 73 when the coupling is to be released.

The female part 69 comprises a second tube 76 with a greater diameter than the first tube 70, which first tube 70 is preferably to be taken up in the second tube 76 by means of a sliding fit. A second opening 77 is taken up in the second tube .

The described coupling functions in such a manner that during the coupling together the male part 68 is introduced into the female part 69, whereby the blocking element 71 is displaced towards the centre of the first tube 70 when the blocking element 71 comes in contact with the end of the second tube 76. When the moving in of the male part 68 into the female part 69 has progressed so far that the blocking element 71 is located right in front of the second opening 77, blocking element 71 is taken up into the second opening 77 by the fifth pressure spring 74, which establishes a coupling together of the male part 69 and the female part 69. During the release of the coupling, i.e., when the male part 68 and the female part 69 are to be separated from one another, leaf spring 73 is caused to shift towards the centre of the first tube 70 in that some kind of tool is inserted into the second hole 75. At this time blocking element 71 is displaced against the effect of the fifth pressure spring 74 towards the centre of the first tube 70 and the male part 68 and the female part 69 can be separated from one another.

The embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the present invention described in Fig. 18-20 is designed to be built into the dashboard of a vehicle right in front of the front passenger seat. Fig. 18 and 19 only show the bracket itself .

The bracket according to Fig. 18-20 comprises a first frame 103 that is fastened in the vehicle body in a suitable manner, e.g., by welding or screws. The first frame 103 is thus stationary and according to the embodiment shown mainly horizontal. The bracket according to Fig. 18-20 also

comprises a second frame 105 that is pivotably connected to the first frame 103 via connecting pieces 106 and a member 110. The second frame 106 corresponds in principle to the first frame 5 shown in Fig. 10A, however, the second frame 105 has no hooks.

The bracket according to Fig. 18-20 also comprises a telescopic strut 107 that extends between the first frame 103 and the second frame 105. According to the embodiment shown the telescopic strut 107 comprises a threaded rod 107A and an internally threaded casing 107B. The threaded rod 107A is connected to an electric motor 114 that can rotate the

threaded rod 107A in an optional direction. The electric motor 114 is pivotably supported on the first frame 103 via a member 122 on a stand 137 that is firmly connected to the first frame 103. The telescopic strut 107 and the electrical motor 114 form an electrically driven screw jack.

The internally threaded casing 107B is pivotably connected to the second frame 105 via a hinge 104.

It can be seen by a study of Fig. 18 and 19 that when the electrical motor 114 causes the threaded rod 107A to rotate in a certain direction, the telescopic strut 107 is prolonged and the bracket is converted from the inactive, folded-together state shown in Fig. 18 to the active, folded- out state shown in Fig. 19, whereby the second frame 105 is rotated around member 110. In the active, folded-out state according to Fig. 19 the second frame 105 assumes a position that is adapted in such a manner that the second frame 105 can support a child safety seat 45 that is identical with the child safety seat described above. In this state the

telescopic strut 107 acts as a support member for the frame 105, i.e., support member 107 fixes the second frame 105 in its active position. A comparative study makes it obvious that the mounting of the child safety seat 45 in the second frame 105 takes place in a manner corresponding to the

mounting of the child safety seat 45 in the second frame 5.

Fig. 20 shows how a child safety seat 45 is mounted on the second frame 105 and it also schematically shows how the bracket has been converted from its inactive state inside a dashboard 180. In order to make it possible for the bracket to be converted from the inactive to the active position, certain parts of the dashboard 180 must be moved to the side or folded away. The constructive form of the dashboard 180 for making this possible can be realized in many ways, e.g., by folding doors or displaceable panel sections.

The operation of the airbag for the front passenger seat is preferably coupled to the position for the bracket in accordance with Fig. 18-20. In this way the airbag is

automatically shut off when the bracket is in its folded-out, active position and the airbag is automatically activated when the bracket is in its inactive, folded-together position inside the dashboard.

Conceivable modifications of the invention

In the above-described embodiment the central console can shift in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

However it is also conceivable in the framework of the present invention that the central console is stationary, i.e., it permanently assumes the rear position shown in Fig. 2. It is stated in the above description that the second frame 5; 105 can be produced from rectangular profiles.

However, is also conceivable within the scope of the present invention that that the frame parts have another cross section, whereby a circular cross section is named in

particular when it is a question of the part that supports the second hooks 46 of the child safety seat 45. The second hooks 46 can thus be rotated in a simpler manner along the circular surface when the child safety seat 45 is assembled.

In the above-described embodiment according to Fig. 18- 20 a screw jack is used as support member for the first frame 105. It is also possible to conceive of other types of telescopic support members in the framework of the present invention, whereby a hydraulic cylinder can be cited in an exemplary and non-limiting manner.

Claims

1. A bracket for a rearward-facing child safety seat (45), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bracket comprises a frame (5; 105) that can be converted from an inactive state to an active state, that a hinge (10; 110) that is stationary relative to the vehicle body is included in the bracket, that the frame (5; 105) can pivot around this hinge (10; 110) during the conversion from the inactive to the active state, and that the bracket comprises support members (7; 107) for fixing the frame (5; 105) in the active state, and that the child safety seat (45) can be anchored to the frame (5) in the active state of the frame (5) .

2. The bracket according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the support member is constituted by a further frame (7) that can be converted to a folded-up, active position, that at least the first frame (5) , that can be folded up, comprises members (40) for supporting an upper end of the second frame (7), that can be folded-up, and that the lower parts of the frames (5, 7) that can be folded up are located at a distance from one another and are connected to a central console.

3. The bracket according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the support member is constituted by a telescopic strut (107) that is pivotably connected at its one end to the first frame (105) , and that the telescopic strut (107) has its other end pivotably connected to the vehicle body.

4. The bracket according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frames (5, 7) are pivotably fastened to a bottom part of the central console.

5. The bracket according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pivotable fastening is effected by hinges (10, 11) .

6. The bracket according to any one of claims 2, 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the members for supporting an upper end of the second frame (7) are constituted by first hook-shaped members (40) .

7. The bracket according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the central console defines an inner storage space, and that the central console is provided with a lid (9) .

8. The bracket according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the support member (107) comprises a threaded rod (107A) and an internally threaded casing (107B).

9. The bracket according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r ! z e d in that the support member comprises an electric motor (114) for the rotation of the threaded rod (107A) .