Device for Mounting a Child Seat in a Car and a Child Seat
The invention concerns a device for mounting a child seat in a car comprising a frame with two frame tubes having at their ends attachment devices for connecting the frame to car mounted brackets and a slide movable along the frame tubes. The slide has a support surface for supporting the child seat and two or more hooks of which at least one is movable for coupling the child seat on the slide. According to the invention the support surface can support a first circular flange of the child seat and the hooks have a circular shape and/or are placed in a circle for gripping the first circular flange.
The present application claims priority of European patent application No. 07104250 filed on Mar. 15, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention concerns a device for mounting a child seat (1) in a car comprising a frame (8) with two frame tubes having at their ends attachment devices (2) for connecting the frame to car mounted brackets (48) and a slide (5) movable along the frame tubes, the slide having a support surface (20) for supporting the child seat and two or more hooks (11) of which at least one is movable for coupling the child seat on the slide characterized in that the support surface (20) can support a first circular flange (22) of the child seat (1) and the hooks (11) have a circular shape and/or are placed in a circle for gripping the first circular flange.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSuch a device is known from EP 1344679.
The disadvantage of the known device is that the child seat cannot rotate when it is placed on the device so that the child must be placed on the child seat when this is in a position whereby the child is not facing the door of the car. This makes placing the child in the seat more complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to overcome this disadvantage the device for mounting a child seat (1) in a car comprises a frame (8) with two frame tubes having at their ends attachment devices (2) for connecting the frame to car mounted brackets (48) and a slide (5) movable along the frame tubes, the slide having a support surface (20) for supporting the child seat and two or more hooks (11) of which at least one is movable for coupling the child seat on the slide characterized in that the support surface (20) can support a first circular flange (22) of the child seat (1) and the hooks (11) have a circular shape and/or are placed in a circle for gripping the first circular flange. In this way the child seat placed on the upper surface can rotate, thereby making it possible to turn the seat towards the side of the car for placing a child on the seat and after that rotating the child seat so that the child faces the front of the car. For taking the child out of the car the child seat can rotate back so that removing the child from the car is easy.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the device includes an upper surface (20) parallel to the frame tubes (8) and preferably immediately above their upper surface. In this way the mass of the child is as near as possible to the brackets in the car, so that in case of a collision the rotation of the child seat relative to the brackets is more limited so that the displacement of the child is as small as possible.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the device includes movable hooks (11) having a first position whereby the child seat (1) can be positioned on or removed from the support surface (20) and a second position whereby the hooks can hold the first circular flange (22) against the support surface, and a mechanism (9, 26, 32) for positioning the movable hooks in the first position and the second position. By moving the movable hooks for connecting the child seat to the device with a mechanism the operator actively connects the child seat to the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the device includes hooks (11) that can grip the first circular flange with their outside circumference. In this way during use the child seat is rotatable around the movable hooks. The child seat prevents in this way that clothing or hands can touch the movable hooks and interfere with their functioning.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the device includes three or more hooks (11). In this way the hooks can exert forces on the child seat in all directions, so that longitudinal forces and sideway forces on the child seat can be transferred towards the car, so that the child seat is held against forces that result from longitudinal or sideways directed collisions.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the movable hooks (11) can move in three or more radial directions. In this way the child seat is centred more easily on the upper surface.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the movable hooks (11) can slide along a linear guide (33) between the first position and the second position. In this way the hooks can be wider so that they grip a larger arc length of the flange and fewer hooks are required for proper gripping the child seat. This improves the ease of operation of the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the slide (5) has at the locations of the hooks (11) one or more second flange parts (21) so that in the second position the hooks grip both the first circular flange (22) and the second flange part. In this way there is when the movable hooks are in the second position a strong coupling between the child seat and the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the movable hooks (11) having spring means (52) for moving it to the first position and holding means (26, 34, 39) for holding it in the second position. This ensures that the movable hooks are always in a determined position and that in the second position the hooks are positioned in a stable way without the risk that the movable hooks inadvertently loosen the child seat.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a cam disc (26) rotatable around a first axis (27) and preferably placed in the centre (c) of the hooks (11) can move the movable hooks, the cam disc having cam surfaces, each of which presses against a side plane of the movable hook. In this way the moving of all the movable hooks towards the second position takes place in a single movement of the cam disc, which improves ease of use.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the cam surfaces are shaped such that the spring means (52) prevent rotation of the cam disc (26) when the movable hooks (11) are in the second position. In this way the cam disc is locked in a simple way in the second position.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the cam disc (26) is rotated by a handle (32) rotatable around a second axis and provided with means (29, 30) for coupling the rotation of the cam disc and the handle. In this way the handle can be located on the slide away from the movable hooks so that it can be used in all situations, also when the child seat is positioned on the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the slide (5) has a mounting position whereby it is located away from the attachment devices (2) and is provided with blocking means (17) for preventing the slide to move from the mounting position towards the attachment devices. This ensures that the slide can only be moved when the device is mounted in the car and the child seat is on the slide. This improves the safe use of the device as in this way the child seat is always placed on the device with the slide in the mounting position and away from the back of the seat. This is safer as in that position of the slide the child seat can be positioned and gripped by the movable hooks in a proper way so preventing errors in fastening the child seat.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the blocking means comprising pins (17) that can extend for each frame tube (8). This is a compact and simple way to block the movement of the slide.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each pin (17) is connected to a first sensor (49) determining whether the attachment device (2) is connected to the car mounted anchorage (48). In this way the movement of the slide is blocked when the attachment devices are not connected to the car mounted brackets.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the frame tubes (8) are provided with notches (41) and the slide (5) with a catch (36) for preventing the slide to move in the direction away from the attachment devices (2). In this way the slide is easily movable to its position of use and can only be moved away when determined action is taken.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the catch (36) is connected to a second sensor (15) for determining whether a child seat (1) is placed on the support surface (20) and/or the circular flange (22) is fully positioned on the support surface. In this way the movement of the slide is blocked when there is no child seat on the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the frame tubes (8) each have a button (14) for disconnecting the attachment device (2) from the car mounted bracket (48), which button is covered and/or deactivated by the slide (5) when the slide is not in the mounting position. This makes sure that when the device is removed from the car the slide is in the mounting position and thereby in the proper position for future use.
The invention also includes a child seat for use with the device. The child seat includes a circular flange (22) that can rest on the support surface (20) and that can be gripped by the hooks (11) has the advantage that it can rotate when placed on the device. The child seat including the circular flange (22) has on its inner diameter a cylindrical surface that can rotate around the hooks (11) that prevents that the user can interfere with the movable hooks.
The invention will now be elucidated with the help of a description of one or more embodiments using a drawing. In the drawing
The slide 5 and the frame 8 together form a base 53 (see
For ease of use the child seat 1 is rotatable on the slide 5, so that the child can be placed in the child seat 1 when the child seat 1 is rotated towards the door of the car as shown in
The child seat 1 is placed around three coupling hooks 11 that are slidable in the plane of the base 53 to and from a rotation axis c of the child seat 1 with the coupling handle 9. In the
After the child seat 1 is placed on the slide 5 and the child is placed in the child seat 1, it can be rotated so that the child faces forward. A seat rotation lock 16 locks the rotation of the child seat 1 in that position. The child seat 1 can be rotated after the push button 54 in the coupling handle 9 has been pushed; this pushing moves the seat rotation lock 16 sideways so that the child seat 1 is free to rotate around the rotation axis c. In stead of the separate push button 54 the coupling handle 9 can be designed such that pushing the coupling handle 9 in radial direction or upwards or downwards has the same effect as activating the push button 54.
After the child seat 1 is placed on the slide 5, which is connected to the car mounted anchorage 48 and the seat detection knobs 15 are activated the slide 5 can be moved towards the seat back 3 so that the distance between the child seat 1 and the parts of the car in front of the child seat 1 are as large as possible. The slide 5 has openings 40 in the side of the slide 5. These openings 40 move backwards when the slide 5 moves backwards. When the slide 5 is in the forward position attachment device unlock buttons 14 can be reached through the openings 40. After the slide 5 is moved backwards it is not possible anymore to reach the attachment device unlock buttons 14, so that accidentally unlocking the attachment devices 2 is not possible. Unlocking the attachment devices 2 is only possible after the slide 5 has been moved forward which is only possible after on both sides of the slide 5 a rattle forward release button 12 has been pushed.
The cam disc 26 is rotated by rotating a handle 32 with the coupling handle 9 around a handle bearing 31. The handle 32 has a gear segment 30 with gear teeth 29 that engage with gear teeth on the cam disc 26. The radius of the gear teeth 30 on the handle 32 is larger than the radius of the gear teeth on the cam disc 26 so that the angle over which the handle 32 must be moved is smaller than the angle over which the cam disc 26 must rotate, which makes positioning and use of the coupling handle 9 easier. The handle 32 can additionally be locked in the position whereby the child seat 1 is fixed to the slide 5 with lock 38.
In the shown embodiment, three coupling hooks 11 can slide in radial direction. In other embodiments there can be two, four, or more coupling hooks of which one hook can be fixed. Also in stead of sliding the movable coupling hooks can pivot around a pin in order to grip around the seat flange 22.
When the attachment device 2 is moved around the car mounted anchorage 48 the toggle 49 rotates and locks the car mounted anchorage 48 in the attachment device 2, see
In the disclosed embodiment there are three coupling hooks 11 that are moved by cam disc 26, slide in radial direction and so couple the child seat 1 to the base 53. It will be clear that for coupling the child seat 1 to the base 53 a different number of hooks can be used, and that instead that the hooks slide inward and outward it is also possible to use hooks that tilt inwards/outwards. In the disclosed embodiment the mechanism for moving the hooks is more or less complete between the legs of the frame 8 and under the top level of the slide 5. A design whereby the mechanism for moving the hooks is inside the circumference of the movable hooks and extends there above the top level of the slide 5 to within and partly above the seat flange 22 is also possible.
Claims
1. A device for mounting a child seat in a car comprising a frame with two frame tubes having at their ends attachment devices for connecting the frame to car mounted brackets and a slide movable along the frame tubes, the slide having a support surface for supporting the child seat and two or more hooks of which at least one is movable for coupling the child seat on the slide characterized in that the support surface can support a first circular flange of the child seat and the hooks have a circular shape and/or are placed in a circle for gripping the first circular flange.
2. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the upper surface is parallel to the frame tubes and preferably immediately above their upper surface.
3. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the movable hooks have a first position whereby the child seat can be positioned on or removed from the support surface and a second position whereby the hooks can hold the first circular flange against the support surface, and a mechanism for positioning the movable hooks in the first position and the second position.
4. The device in accordance with claim 1, whereby the hooks can grip the first circular flange with their outside circumference.
5. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby there are three or more hooks.
6. The device in accordance with claim 5 whereby the movable hooks can move in three or more radial directions.
7. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the movable hooks can slide along a linear guide between the first position and the second position.
8. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the slide has at the locations of the hooks one or more second flange parts so that in the second position the hooks grip both the first circular flange and a second flange part.
9. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the movable hooks have spring means for moving it to the first position and holding means for holding it in the second position.
10. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby a cam disc rotatable around a first axis and preferably placed in the centre of the hooks can move the movable hooks, the cam disc having cam surfaces, each of which presses against a side plane of the movable hook.
11. The device in accordance with claim 10 whereby the cam surfaces are shaped such that the spring means prevent rotation of the cam disc when the movable hooks are in the second position.
12. The device in accordance with claim 10 whereby the cam disc is rotated by a handle rotatable around a second axis and provided with means for coupling the rotation of the cam disc and the handle.
13. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereby the slide has a mounting position whereby it is located away from the attachment devices and is provided with blocking means for preventing the slide to move from the mounting position towards the attachment devices.
14. The device in accordance with claim 13 whereby the blocking means comprise pins that can extend from each frame tube.
15. The device in accordance with claim 14 whereby each pin is connected to a first sensor determining whether the attachment device is connected to the car mounted anchorage.
16. The device in accordance with claim 13, whereby by the frame tubes are provided with notches and the slide with a catch for preventing the slide to move in the direction away from the attachment devices.
17. The device in accordance with claim 16 whereby the catch is connected to a second sensor for determining whether a child seat is placed on the support surface and/or the circular flange is fully positioned on the support surface.
18. The device in accordance with claim 13 whereby the frame tubes each have a button for disconnecting the attachment device from the car mounted bracket, which button is covered and/or deactivated by the slide when the slide is not in the mounting position.
19. The device of claim 1 further including a child seat mounted on said device whereby the child seat has a circular flange that can rest on the support surface and that can be gripped by the hooks.
20. The device of claim 19 whereby the circular flange has on its inner diameter a cylindrical surface that can rotate around the hooks.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2008
Inventor: Herman Van der Vegt (Utrecht)
Application Number: 12/048,731
International Classification: A47D 1/10 (20060101);