U.S. patent application number 10/918058 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for child car seat inclining and swivelling between a travelling position and an installing position.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMPAFRANCE. Invention is credited to Biaud, Richard M..
Application Number | 20050077765 10/918058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34112769 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050077765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Biaud, Richard M. |
April 14, 2005 |
Child car seat inclining and swivelling between a travelling
position and an installing position
Abstract
A child car seat device is provided, which includes a base
intended to be fitted to a car seat and designed to accept a seat.
The seat is movable in rotation in a substantially horizontal
plane, so as to allow movement from a travelling position, in which
said seat is orientated according to the principal axis of said
vehicle, to a position for installing a child, in which said seat
is turned substantially facing a door of said vehicle. The seat is
also movable in inclination. The base has a part extending
substantially vertically so as to lean against the backrest of said
car seat, and whose upper part has a connection zone with the upper
part of the backrest of said seat. In said travelling position,
said inclination is obtained essentially by rotating said seat in a
substantially vertical plane about a fixed point belonging, in said
travelling position, to said connection zone.
Inventors: |
Biaud, Richard M.;
(Trementines, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David D. Brush
Westman, Champlin & Kelly
Suite 1600
900 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis
MN
55402-3319
US
|
Assignee: |
AMPAFRANCE
Cholet
FR
|
Family ID: |
34112769 |
Appl. No.: |
10/918058 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/256.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/2875 20130101;
B60N 2/2869 20130101; B60N 2/286 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/256.16 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2003 |
FR |
FR 03 09935 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A child car seat device comprising a base intended to be fitted
to a car seat and designed to accept a seat, said seat being
movable in rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, so as to
allow movement from a travelling position, in which said seat is
orientated according to a principal axis of a vehicle in which the
car seat device is installed, to a position for installing a child,
in which said seat is turned substantially facing a door of said
vehicle and said seat being movable in inclination, wherein said
base comprises a part extending substantially vertically so as to
lean against the backrest of said car seat, and whose upper part
has a connection zone with the upper part of the backrest of said
seat, in said travelling position, wherein said inclination is
obtained essentially by rotating said seat in a substantially
vertical plane, about a fixed point belonging, in said travelling
position, to said connection zone.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said seat is assembled
on a single plate, which ensures both the mobility in rotation and
inclination.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said plate comprises at
least one guiding zone substantially defining an arc of a circle,
collaborating with a complementary guiding element connected to
said seat.
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said plate bears at
least a rack, defining at least two pre-set positions of
inclination of said seat.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said connection zone
comprises at least one locking element assembled on said base or
said backrest, which collaborates with at least one anchorage
element assembled on the other of said base or said backrest, when
said backrest is in said travelling position.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said anchorage element
comprises at least a rod and said locking element comprises at
least a housing and/or at least a catching hook of said rod.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said anchorage element
is connected to return means with the tendency of returning the
anchorage element to a locking position.
8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the locking element
comprises means for guiding the anchorage element on said locking
element when said seat moves from the installing position to the
travelling position, and/or vice versa.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said means for guiding
act on said anchorage element by opposing a restoring force of said
return means, until bringing said anchorage element into contact
with said locking element.
10. The device according of claim 8, wherein said means for guiding
have a width sufficient to collaborate with said anchorage element
irrespective of the inclination of said seat.
11. The device according to claim 5 and further comprising means
for unlocking, allowing to positively disconnect said locking
element from said anchorage element, then to move the seat from
said travelling position to said installing position.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said means for
unlocking comprise at least a cam acting on said anchorage element
so as to disengage the anchorage element from said locking
element.
13. The device according to claim 11, wherein said means for
unlocking are controlled in an off-set manner, by means of a
control cable.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said means for
unlocking are controlled by one or other of two control elements,
respectively fitted on each of the sides of said seat or of said
base.
15. Child seat equipping the device according to claim 1.
16. Base for device according to claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Cross-reference is hereby made to U.S. application Ser. No.
10/______, having attorney docket number A71.12-0008, filed Aug.
13, 2004, which is entitled "CHILD CAR SEAT SWIVELLING BETWEEN A
FORWARD FACING POSITION AND A DOOR FACING POSITION, WITH AUTOMATIC
RETURN TO FORWARD FACING POSITION," and which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the field of child care. More
precisely, the invention relates to child seats intended to be
fitted in a vehicle. Even more precisely, the invention relates to
movable car seats so that they have an installing position (facing
the door) and a travelling position (facing forwards).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] As regards car seats, one of the difficulties is
accessibility, notably due to the limited space left by the door
and the seat of the vehicle. It is generally rather difficult to
install a child into the seat or to lift him out of it.
[0004] So as to facilitate installing the child, it was thus
proposed to make the seat swivel in relation to a base or a fixed
structure, the seat being likely to be moved between two
positions:
[0005] a position for installing the child, facing the side door
(there are generally two installing positions, the seat being able
to turn either right or left); and
[0006] a forward facing transporting or travelling position.
[0007] The invention particularly relates to this type of child
seat.
[0008] For safety reasons, it is desirable that the base holds the
seat in at least two positions, on the lower section (seating part)
and on the upper section (near the upper section of the backrest).
For this reason the base has two substantially perpendicular
sections, one leaning on the seat of the vehicle, and supporting
the seating part of the child car seat, and another extending
substantially vertically, along the backrest of the seat of the
vehicle. The latter section comprises in its upper part means of
connection with the upper part of the backrest of the child
seat.
[0009] This double bonding naturally reinforces the safety, notably
in the event of an impact. However, it engenders some difficulties,
notably as regards the adjusting of the position of the seat in
respect to the base.
[0010] Indeed it is desirable, for the comfort of the child, to be
able to adjust the inclination of the seat. It was thus proposed to
make the seat slide in relation to the base. This solution is
efficient when the base only operates in conjunction with the
seating part of the seat.
[0011] On the other hand, it can not be implemented in the above
case where the upper part of the backrest is also connected to the
base. Indeed, the backrest also moves, when the entire body
rotates, whereas the base remains fixed. It is therefore difficult
to connect them in an efficient manner.
[0012] Solutions have however been envisaged, with the help of
sliding systems also planned on the upper part of the backrest
and/or the seating part. But these solutions have an inconvenience,
over and above their complexity. Indeed, it is necessary to bring
the seat into a pre-set inclining position, classically fully
raised, before being able to move the seat so as to alter it from
the travelling position to the installing position.
[0013] This is quite impractical, as, each time the child is
installed or lifted out, the seat must be put upright, then moved
towards the door, then returned to the travelling position and
finally put into the desired inclining position. This series of
operations runs the risk of sparse use, in which the seat will
always be in the upright position.
[0014] Furthermore, in the event where an intermediary position is
appreciated by the child, it must be searched from among all the
possible positions each time the seat is put back into the
travelling position.
[0015] Another inconvenience of known techniques is that the
adjusting of the inclination can only take place when the seat is
in the forward facing position whereas it would often be easier to
do whilst installing the child into his seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The purpose of the invention is notably to overcome these
inconveniences of the prior art.
[0017] More precisely, a purpose of the invention is to provide a
child car seat, that swivels between a travelling position and an
installing position, irrespective of its position of
inclination.
[0018] Another purpose of the invention is to provide such a child
car seat, whose inclination can be adjusted in both the travelling
position and in the installing position.
[0019] Another purpose of the invention is to provide such a child
car seat, that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and that
wears well.
[0020] Thus, a purpose of the invention is to provide such a child
car seat that is relatively inexpensive, in particularly as regards
the number of parts and assembly time.
[0021] Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide such a
child car seat, with good safety characteristics, and notably whose
seat is retained by the upper part of its backrest.
[0022] The invention also has the purpose of providing such a child
car seat, that is simple and ergonomic to maneuver and adjust, and
comfortable for the child.
[0023] These purposes as well as others which will become clearer
later on are reached with the help of a child car seat device
comprising a base intended to be fitted to a car seat and designed
to accept a seat, said seat being movable:
[0024] in rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, so as to
allow the movement from a travelling position, in which said seat
is orientated according to the principal axis of said vehicle, to a
position for installing a child, in which said seat is turned
substantially facing a door of said vehicle; and
[0025] in inclination.
[0026] According to the invention, said base has a part extending
substantially vertically so as to lean against the backrest of said
car seat, and whose upper part has a connection zone with the upper
part of the backrest of said seat, in said travelling position,
said inclination being obtained essentially by rotating said seat
in a substantially vertical plane about a fixed point belonging, in
said travelling position, to said connection zone.
[0027] Thus, the adjusting of the inclination does not interact, or
barely, with the connection zone. It is thus possible to actuate
the latter (to connect the seat in the travelling position, or to
positively disconnect the seat from the upper part of the base so
as to bring it into the installing position) irrespective of the
position of inclination.
[0028] Likewise, it is possible to rotate the seat in all the
positions of inclination, and to adjust the inclination even when
the seat is in the installing position.
[0029] This is notably possible due to the fact that the
inclination is obtained at least essentially via rotation, and that
the axis of rotation lies in the connection zone, so that the
latter remains in a substantially invariant position.
[0030] According to an advantageous embodiment, said seat is
assembled on a single plate, itself ensuring both the mobility in
rotation and inclination.
[0031] Said plate then advantageously bears at least one guiding
zone substantially defining an arc of circle, collaborating with a
complementary guiding element connected to said seat.
[0032] Preferably, said support plate bears at least a rack,
defining at least two pre-set positions of inclination of said
seat.
[0033] According to another advantageous aspect of the invention,
said connection zone of said base bears at least a locking element
collaborating with at least an anchorage element assembled on said
backrest of the seat, when the latter is in said travelling
position.
[0034] In an alternative manner, we can also plan that said
backrest of the seat bears at least a locking element collaborating
with at least an anchorage element assembled on said connection
zone of said base, when said seat is in said travelling
position.
[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, said anchorage
element(s) comprise at least a rod, and in that said locking
element(s) comprise at least a housing and/or at least a catching
hook of said cable(s).
[0036] Advantageously, said anchorage element(s) are connected to
return means with the tendency of returning them to the locking
position.
[0037] Preferably, the element, base or backrest of the seat,
bearing the anchorage element(s) comprises means for guiding acting
on said anchorage element(s) when said seat moves from the
installing position to the travelling position, and/or vice
versa.
[0038] Said means for guiding can advantageously act on said
anchorage element(s) by opposing the restoring force of said return
means, until bringing said anchorage element(s) into contact with
said means for locking.
[0039] Preferably, said means for guiding have a width sufficient
to collaborate with said anchorage element(s) irrespective of the
inclination of said seat.
[0040] According to another advantageous characteristic of the
invention, the device comprises means for unlocking, allowing to
positively disconnect said anchorage element(s) from said locking
element(s), then to move the seat from said travelling position to
said installing position.
[0041] Notably, said means for locking advantageously comprise at
least a cam acting on said anchorage element(s) so as to disengage
them from said locking element(s).
[0042] Preferably, said means for unlocking are controlled in an
off-set manner, by means of a control cable. Advantageously, said
means for unlocking are controlled by one or other of the two
control elements, respectively fitted on each of the sides of said
seat or of said base.
[0043] The invention also relates to child seats equipping devices
such as described above, and the corresponding bases.
[0044] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become clearer upon reading the following description of a
preferable embodiment, given by way of non-restrictive example and
made in reference to the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1A illustrates a child car seat according to one
embodiment of the invention, in a travelling position, and in a
seat upright position of inclination.
[0046] FIG. 1B illustrates the child car seat shown in FIG. 1A in
the travelling position, and in a seat fully inclined position of
inclination.
[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates the upper part of the base and of the
seat in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the seat is in an installing
position.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a partial view of the back of the seat
corresponding to a rear view of FIG. 2.
[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a means of locking fitted on the seat and
the base of the preceding figures.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a partial view of the swivel plate bearing the
seating part.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0051] An embodiment of the invention relates to a child car seat
adjustable in inclination, and swivelling, so that it can be moved
facing the door of a vehicle, so as to allow the installing and
lifting out of a child. According to the invention, this
inclination is ensured via a rotational movement (or practically
rotational, a slight offsetting being acceptable), the axis of
rotation being located in a connection zone of the backrest of the
seat with the upper part of its base.
[0052] Thus, this connection zone, and more precisely the locking
elements that it contains, barely move and can therefore be
activated and employed in all the positions of inclination. As this
becomes clearer in the following, specific means are planned to
allow the moving of the seat from the travelling position to the
installing position, and vice versa, as also disclosed in U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/______, having attorney docket number
A71.12-0008, filed Aug. 13, 2004, which is entitled "CHILD CAR SEAT
SWIVELLING BETWEEN A FORWARD FACING POSITION AND A DOOR FACING
POSITION, WITH AUTOMATIC RETURN TO FORWARD FACING POSITION," and
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0053] We note that until now we have indiscriminately used the
term seat for the entire body, or device, constituted of the base
and the seat, or to designate the seat itself. From now on the term
"seat" will designate the movable part compared to the base.
[0054] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate such a device according to the
invention. The base 11 comprises a substantially horizontal part
111, leaning against the seating part of the car seat, and a
substantially vertical part 112, leaning against the backrest of
this car seat. The seat 12 is assembled on the base 11, through the
use of a swivel plate 13.
[0055] In its upper part, the seat 12 comprises means for
connection 14, collaborating with complementary elements designed
for this purpose on the upper part of the base 112.
[0056] As previously indicated, the seat 12 can have several
positions of inclination and at least one upright position (FIG.
1A) and a greatly inclined position (FIG. 1B). Preferably, several
intermediary positions of inclination will be envisaged and indexed
on the swivel plate 13.
[0057] This rotation is made about an axis extending around the
means of connection 14, making the position of the latter rest
substantially invariant.
[0058] Thus, it is possible to connect and disconnect these
elements 14, so as to return the seat to the installing position,
irrespective of the position of inclination of the seat.
[0059] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate this position of inclination,
respectively seen from the front and from the rear.
[0060] As we note in FIG. 2, the base comprises means for anchoring
21, detailed in FIG. 4. The backrest 12 of the seat comprises, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, means 31 designed to collaborate with the
catching hook 21, and means for guiding this catching hook 32 and
33, designed to return, or guide, the latter into the anchorage
position when the seat is brought from the installing position to
the travelling position, irrespective of the inclination of the
latter.
[0061] These elements are more precisely illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0062] The catching hook 21 (or rod) is connected to the base
through the use of two plates 41 and 42. It is assembled in such a
way so to be rotational, so as to hook on to or release it from a
locking part 43, connected to the seating part.
[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, this part 43 comprises two
slots 431 and 432, into which the rod 21 is inserted.
[0064] Of course, a similar locking system with a single central
slot, or with several spindles each collaborating with a slot are
conceivable. More generally speaking, a number of other locking
systems can be envisaged as replacements or in addition.
[0065] A return spring 44 is fitted to the rod 21. This return
spring 44 tries to return the rod 21 into the slots 431 and 432, so
that the default position of the rod is the locked position.
Another spring can be fitted to the other side of the rod.
[0066] In order to perform unlocking, so as to move the seat from
the travelling position to the installing position, the rod 21 must
be released from the slots 431 and 432. This can for example be
obtained through the use of a cam 45 assembled under the rod 21,
and advantageously operated remotely, via a system of cables
46.
[0067] This cable 46 can be assembled in a sheath 47, and have its
other end connected to a push button 48, fitted for example to one
of the armrests of the seat. Preferably, two such systems are
envisaged, respectively on each armrest.
[0068] When the cable 46 is pulled, through the use of the push
button 48, the cam 45 is tilted, which then pushes the rod 21 free
from the slots 431 and 432. The seat can then be rotated.
[0069] Other actuating elements can also be envisaged.
[0070] Moreover, other means for locking can be envisaged, so as to
render the entire body secure. We can thus for example plan for a
part extending over the rod 21 to prevent it from disengaging in an
untimely manner from the two slots 431 and 432.
[0071] We can also replace the slots 431 and 432, or at least one
of them, with a locking element, bearing a catching hook or a jaw
retaining the rod 21. The opening, or the releasing, of this
locking element can replace the cam so as to allow the moving into
the installing position, for example with a similar cable
mechanism.
[0072] When the seat 12 is returned from the installing position to
the travelling position, the upper part of the backrest comes into
contact with the rod 21 (moved downwards by means of the return
spring 44), by means of the section 32 or 33, which has an inclined
part, and then progressively raises this rod (by opposing the
restoring force of the spring).
[0073] When the seat is returned to the exact travelling position,
the rod 21 automatically moves (still under the effect of the
return spring 44) into the slots 431 and 432. The seat is thus
automatically locked without the need for any manipulation. We thus
have a simple, safe and efficient system.
[0074] We note that the rod can also be assembled on the seat, and
the means for locking on the seat.
[0075] FIG. 5 represents a partial view of the swivel plate of the
seat previously described. This plate comprises a rack 51, allowing
to index a series of positions of inclination of the seat in
relation to the base. The plate also comprises, on each side of the
rack, two guiding elements 52 (only one being represented so as to
make the rack 51 visible) defining an inclination ramp in an arc of
circle, in which a complementary guiding element assembled to the
seat can be slid.
[0076] Means for locking and unlocking the inclination
(non-represented) are envisaged. They can for example classically
act on the rack 51.
[0077] We note that with such a system, it is possible to adjust
the inclination of the seat when it is in either the travelling
position or in the installing position. Indeed, only the elements
illustrated in FIG. 5 act upon this inclination.
[0078] The adjusting of the inclination whilst in the installing
position does not affect the locking, when the seat is returned to
the travelling position, as the rotation is done about an axis
substantially coinciding with the connection zone. We note that the
catching sections 32 and 33 of the rod 21 can also be used to
compensate for a slight movement due to the adjusting of the
inclination.
* * * * *