Secured By Bottom-back Crevice Patents (Class 297/253)
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Patent number: 7021709Abstract: The presence of a child restraint seat on a vehicle seat is detected by a child restraint seat anchor that is movable from a first position to a second position when a strap from the child restraint seat is coupled to the anchor. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the movable anchor is slidably mounted in a housing and slides against the bias of at least one spring when the child restraint seat is coupled thereto. A micro switch is activated upon the moveable anchor sliding from the first position to the second position to cause an air bag controller to either deactivate or slow deployment of an air bag when the child seat is present.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: John R. Dolan, Romeo Joseph D. Garcia, Jr., James A McKenzie
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Patent number: 6962394Abstract: A coupling to attach a device such as an infant seat to an anchor member. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a mouth with a seat configured to receive the anchor member and a lever movably mounted on the frame to hold the anchor member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch in the closed position and allows access to the notch when moved to the open position. The coupling may include a stop member to resist movement from the closed to the open position. The coupling also may include a web adjuster or other connecting device operatively disposed between the coupling and the device.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: James T. Anthony, Michael A. Wiseman, Guy R. Dingman, Steven T. Berenyi
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Patent number: 6935687Abstract: A mounting anchor for a motor vehicle includes a locking bar, a first switch, a first movable plate, a second switch and a second movable plate. The first switch is positioned adjacent a first side of the locking bar and the first movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the first side of the locking bar. The first movable plate includes a first activation area for receiving a portion of the first switch and a first aperture for receiving a first rotatable arm. The second switch is positioned adjacent a second side of the locking bar, which is opposite the first side of the locking bar. The second movable plate is positioned to slidably engage a groove on the second side of the locking bar and includes a second activation area for receiving a portion of the second switch and a second aperture for receiving a second rotatable arm.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Gray, Mark A. Lynn, Mark A. Ginter
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Patent number: 6932407Abstract: A vehicle child seat attachment structure basically comprises a vehicle body panel and a sheet metal structural member. The sheet metal structural member is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the sheet metal structural member. The cabin facing portion of the sheet metal structural member is configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of an integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive a child seat tether clip. The sheet metal structural member is reinforced by a reinforcement plate configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Jason Cuerrier, Mike Smith, Youichi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6877809Abstract: A child car seat (10) has a seat bottom (11) to be set on the seat of a vehicle, and a seat back (12) capable of turning relative to the seat bottom (11). Straps (40) having back end parts connected to an anchoring member (42) is extended along the bottom surface of the seat bottom (11). The length of parts of the straps (40) between the seat bottom (11) and the anchoring member (42) is adjusted by sliding a strap tightening device (41) along the straps (40). The strap tightening device (41) is engaged with a step (50) formed in the front end of the seat bottom (11) to hold the seat bottom (11) securely on the seat of a vehicle by the straps (40).Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Combi CorporationInventors: Kojiro Yamazaki, Nobuaki Takamizu, Yoshihiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 6869141Abstract: A child seat mounting structure in which a child seat can be easily mounted. The child seat mounting structure includes a seat which is installed in a vehicle body, and which has a seatback, a headrest which is mounted on the top of the seatback, and which has a through hole formed therein, and a child seat which is mounted on the seat, and which has a top tether extending from the top thereof for fixing the child seat. The top tether extends backward through the through hole and beyond the seatback, and the end of the top tether is engaged with a portion of the seat or a portion of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Yamaoka, Muneatsu Minato
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Patent number: 6860557Abstract: A footrest for a child safety seat (20) includes a support (10) for supporting the lower side of an adherent child safety seat (20) and a footstep (13) that is attached to the support (10). The footstep (13) is adjustable in order to adapt to the length of the legs of the child (21) that is seated in the child safety seat (20). The footrest is equipped with an anchor (12) that is intended to be received in a space (24) between the upper side of an adherent seat (22) and the lower side of an adherent backrest (23) in a vehicle where the footrest is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2001Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: LB Invent ABInventor: Lars Jonasson
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Patent number: 6834915Abstract: An infant car seat system is provided, including a car seat, a car seat base, and a stroller. The connection and release mechanisms between the car seat and the base and stroller are durable and easy to operate.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Baby Trend, Inc.Inventor: Mark Sedlack
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Patent number: 6827400Abstract: A comfort system for use at middle seat of a vehicle having a pair of seats laterally on either side of the middle seat, with each lateral seat including a conventional seat belt, a backrest and a support surface. The comfort system comprises a base section having a pair of sides, an upwardly directed section having a pair of padded sides, and a pair of padded headrests located on respective sides of the upwardly directed section. With this arrangement when an occupant, e.g., a child, is seated on either lateral seat and wearing the seat belt the child may comfortably lean against the comfort system so that the occupant's head engages the headrest on the adjacent to side and at least a portion of the occupant's upper torso engages that side of the upwardly directed section.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaInventors: Rajiv Menon, Kristy Bittenbender Arbogast, Flaura Koplin Winston, Kurt A. Schwinghammer
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Patent number: 6820310Abstract: A web adjuster for varying a length of a web. The web adjuster has a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a frame including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The adjuster may include a coupling device, such as another web or a snap hook, to operatively anchor the coupling device.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Gregory L. Woodard, Guy R Dingman, Michael A. Wiseman
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Publication number: 20040227384Abstract: A restraint anchorage for a child safety seat for an automotive vehicle having a cross member disposed behind the vehicle's seat. U-shaped latch wires are attached to the cross member. Collars are provided on the legs of the latch wires which engage one side of the cross members. The ends of the legs which protrude through holes provided in the cross member are peened over to form enlarged heads locking the latch wire to the cross member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: M & C CORPORATIONInventors: David J. Smallwood, John T. Shier, Ronald D. McLeod
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Patent number: 6799799Abstract: A child safety seat comprises a seat structure having a base support surface for resting on a vehicle seat cushion, and a seating surface for a child occupant, the seating surface. A rigid link is attached to the child seat structure solely by a coupling mechanism that permits angular movement of the child seat structure relative to the rigid links about an axis located above the base support surface. A releasable connector is mounted on the rigid link for engagement with a standard anchorage unit associated with the vehicle seat. The child safety seat may be either forward facing or rearward facing.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2001Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbHInventors: Dieter Maier, Hermann Schall
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Patent number: 6796610Abstract: A child seat device is formed of a base to be placed on a seat of a car, a child seat body placed on the base, and a connecting member for connecting a rear bottom of the child seat body to a fixed portion. The connecting member increases a length thereof while absorbing a kinetic energy of the child seat body when a tension higher than a predetermined value is applied thereto from the child seat body.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Osamu Nakagawa, Junichi Yoshida
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Patent number: 6767057Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle structure including a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion intersecting at a seat bight. A vehicle anchorage system for securing a child seat on the vehicle seat comprises two lower anchorage assemblies each having a fixed member secured to the vehicle structure, an anchor having a latchable portion for releasable engagement with a lower child seat tether hook at the seat bight, and an energy absorbing mechanism operable above a predetermined force threshold to provide a limited forward displacement of the anchor and the lower child seat tether hook. The vehicle anchorage system also includes an upper anchorage assembly having a fixed portion secured to the vehicle structure, a latchable portion for releasable engagement with an upper child seat tether hook, and an energy absorbing mechanism operable above a second predetermined force threshold to provide a limited forward displacement of the latchable portion and the upper child seat tether hook.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Jeffrey C. Neelis
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Publication number: 20040084940Abstract: A raised portion of a seat cushion is formed by attaching a sub-cushion portion including a pair of notches formed so as to allow a pair of connectors to pass therethrough to a seat cushion pad. In the state where the sub-cushion portion is attached to the seat cushion pad, a pair of through holes, through which the pair of connectors provided for a child safety seat inserted from the front face of the vehicle seat can pass to project from the back face of the vehicle seat, are formed. At the same time, fixation anchors, to which the connectors projecting from the through holes are connected, are provided on axes of the through holes. Thus, a vehicle seat is provided, in which the workability at the installation of the child safety seat can be improved even for the vehicle seat including the seat cushion with a raised rear end.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Rikiya Morita
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Publication number: 20040084939Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting an add-on passenger restraint system to a vehicle seat is provided. The apparatus comprises a retractor affixed to the add-on passenger restraint system. An extension member extends between the retractor and a coupling member. The coupling member is configured to engage an anchorage attached to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventor: Donald C. Boyle
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Publication number: 20040080195Abstract: An anchorage for connecting an article such as a child safety seat to a vehicle seat includes a wire rod having rectangular shape and having first and second legs each terminating in a bent portion. A unitary attachment bracket is mechanically and weldlessly connected to the wire rod in a pressing operation wherein the attachment bracket includes retainer members aligned with the bent portions of the wire rod to prevent the bent portions from straightening when a load is applied to the wire rod. The attachment bracket connects the wire rod to a vehicle component. A method of producing the anchorage includes producing the wire rod and the attachment bracket blank and aligning them to weldlessly, mechanically capture the wire rod in the formed attachment bracket and then connect the anchorage to the vehicle component.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Grant A. Adams, Joseph M. Kish, Ashok K. Sethi, Edward J. Lamont
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Publication number: 20040080194Abstract: A child safety seat anchorage is mechanically attached and welded to a robust support member, e.g., a tube or bracket, which in turn is secured to a vehicle seat or the vehicle frame. The welding of the wire rod is primarily for the purpose of positioning the wire rod at the prescribed location within a vehicle so that hooks, straps or other connectors from a child safety seat can be attached to the wire rod anchorage. The anchorage is located at and extends from a bite line between a seat cushion and a seat back. Alternative attachment designs include the use of a strap, alternative design wire rod anchorages and slots and holes to connect the wire rod anchorage to the tube or bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Jeffry P. Medvecky, Todd R. Muck, Matthew C. McClelland, Eric S. Hansen, Russell R. Burns, Joseph M. Kish, Grant A. Adams, Edward J. Lamont, Omar H. Khatib, Ioan J. Neaga, Xin Liu, Ashok K. Sethi
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Publication number: 20040051356Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle structure including a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion intersecting at a seat bight. A vehicle anchorage system for securing a child seat on the vehicle seat comprises two lower anchorage assemblies each having a fixed member secured to the vehicle structure, an anchor having a latchable portion for releasable engagement with a lower child seat tether hook at the seat bight, and an energy absorbing mechanism operable above a predetermined force threshold to provide a limited forward displacement of the anchor and the lower child seat tether hook. The vehicle anchorage system also includes an upper anchorage assembly having a fixed portion secured to the vehicle structure, a latchable portion for releasable engagement with an upper child seat tether hook, and an energy absorbing mechanism operable above a second predetermined force threshold to provide a limited forward displacement of the latchable portion and the upper child seat tether hook.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2002Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventor: Jeffrey C. Neelis
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Publication number: 20040041450Abstract: A child seat mounting structure in which a child seat can be easily mounted. The child seat mounting structure includes a seat which is installed in a vehicle body, and which has a seatback, a headrest which is mounted on the top of the seatback, and which has a through hole formed therein, and a child seat which is mounted on the seat, and which has a top tether extending from the top thereof for fixing the child seat. The top tether extends backward through the through hole and beyond the seatback, and the end of the top tether is engaged with a portion of the seat or a portion of the vehicle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Yamaoka, Muneatsu Minato
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Publication number: 20040032154Abstract: A comfort system for use at middle seat of a vehicle having a pair of seats laterally on either side of the middle seat, with each lateral seat including a conventional seat belt, a backrest and a support surface. The comfort system comprises a base section having a pair of sides, an upwardly directed section having a pair of padded sides, and a pair of padded headrests located on respective sides of the upwardly directed section. With this arrangement when an occupant, e.g., a child, is seated on either lateral seat and wearing the seat belt the child may comfortably lean against the comfort system so that the occupant's head engages the headrest on the adjacent to side and at least a portion of the occupant's upper torso engages that side of the upwardly directed section.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Rajiv Menon, Kristy Bittenbender Arbogast, Flaura Koplin Winston, Kurt A. Schwinghammer
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Patent number: 6634710Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat frame for supporting a cushion of a seat. A bracket is attached to the seat frame. The bracket includes mounting locations for fastening the bracket to a floor portion of a vehicle. At least one pair of anchor wires are attached to the bracket. Each of the anchor wires includes first and second legs which are attached to the bracket, and a latch receiving portion interconnecting the first and second legs. The latch receiving portion is adapted to be releasably engageable with a corresponding latch mechanism on a child safety seat.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Richard Adamson, Sr., Philip Verdura, Michelle Raybon, Paul S. Severinski
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Publication number: 20030193226Abstract: A juvenile seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle seat. The assembly includes a juvenile seat for placement on the vehicle seat and a vehicle anchor system coupled to the seat. The juvenile seat includes a first pair of openings and a second pair of openings. The vehicle anchor system includes an anchor belt adapted to be coupled to a pair of anchor mounts provided in or near the vehicle seat. The anchor belt includes a strap having a central portion and opposite end portions, and a connector coupled to each end portion and adapted to be coupled to one of the anchor mounts. The anchor belt is threaded through the first openings to position the seat in a first, rearwardly facing position and the anchor belt is threaded through the second openings to position the seat in a second, forwardly facing position. The vehicle anchor system also includes a leash coupled to the juvenile seat and to the central portion of the anchor belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventor: James M. Kain
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Patent number: 6631958Abstract: In a fastening device (101) for a child's seat on a vehicle seat, in particular on a motor-vehicle seat, having at least one fastening element (109) which can be moved between an operational position and a parking position and which can be secured in the operational position, an interlocking element (113) is provided which locks the fastening element (109) in the operational position.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Manfred Herrmann, Ralf Liedhegener, Peter Reimer, Heiko Utsch, Michael Wagner, Bodo Zirnstein
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Publication number: 20030160485Abstract: A latch system adapted for use with a child vehicle seat has a securing belt, latches which are disposed at each end of the securing belt, and a connection member. The latches are adapted for connection to anchor points rigidly connected to the vehicle. The connection member has a loop portion through which the securing belt is slidably disposed and a connection portion adapted for permanent connection to the child vehicle seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Joshua O. Mullen, Robert C. Barrett
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Patent number: 6601917Abstract: A seat assembly (10) for a vehicle having an anchor (16) for a child seat (15) disposed between a seat cushion (12) and a seat back (14). The invention is characterized by a cover (17) movable into a retracted and closed position between the seat cushions (12) and the seat back (14) covering the anchor (16) and out of the retracted position to an extended and fully open position out from between the seat cushions (12) and seat back (14) exposing the anchor (16) for attachment to the child seat (15). The cover (17) includes guide slots (34, 36) for slidably receiving side portions (50) of the anchor (16) and a ramped surface (60) automatically moves the lid (20) from the closed position to the fully open position in response to the housing (18) moving relative to the anchor (16).Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.Inventor: Sven Christopherson
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Patent number: 6592183Abstract: A juvenile seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle seat. The assembly includes a juvenile seat for placement on the vehicle seat and a vehicle anchor system coupled to the seat. The juvenile seat includes a first pair of openings and a second pair of openings. The vehicle anchor system includes an anchor belt adapted to be coupled to a pair of anchor mounts provided in or near the vehicle seat. The anchor belt includes a strap having a central portion and opposite end portions, and a connector coupled to each end portion and adapted to be coupled to one of the anchor mounts. The anchor belt is threaded through the first openings to position the seat in a first, rearwardly facing position and the anchor belt is threaded through the second openings to position the seat in a second, forwardly facing position. The vehicle anchor system also includes a leash coupled to the juvenile seat and to the central portion of the anchor belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventor: James M. Kain
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Patent number: 6582016Abstract: A cavity and channel system within a seat back is adapted to provide design flexibility in locating isofix attachment rods. The system includes a rear cavity for receiving the isofix rod and a channel which extends through the seat back. A plate is designed to substantially close the rear of the cavity to prevent wind and noise issues, and a tunnel is attached to the front of the plate to provide the appearance of a smooth seam when a child seat is not in use.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Kirchoff, Jerry D. Crummel, Linda M. Magier
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Patent number: 6554357Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Freedman Seating CompanyInventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
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Patent number: 6547329Abstract: A device for detachably securing an object on a motor vehicle seat includes a transverse support member mountable adjacent to and along a gap between a seating surface and backrest of the motor vehicle seat and a pair of securements spaced apart and mounted to the support member so as to extend into the gap and being adapted for securing the object on the seating surface. Each securement includes a set of elements and structures connecting at least some of the elements of each set with one another and with the support member such that the securements are swivellable in planes defined by the securements relative to the support member between extended positions of use and retracted positions of rest. In positions of use, the securements have U-shaped configurations formed by the sets of elements such that one securement is identical to and a mirror image of the other securement.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Bertrand Fauer Sitztechnik GnbH & Co. KGInventor: Bernd Deptolla
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Patent number: 6543846Abstract: A child car seat is designed for attachment to an automobile seat. The child car seat includes two sets of restraining guides through which a belt is threaded to install the child car seat to the automobile seat. One set of restraining guides is for positioning the child car seat to the automobile seat in a forward-facing orientation, and another set is for a rearward-facing orientation. The installation belt has two ends and an intermediate region extending between the ends. A length adjustor is engaged to the intermediate region, and a fastener is attached to each belt end. Each fastener detachably connects to cooperating devices on an automobile seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Dick Cone Industrial Design, Inc.Inventor: Richard E. Cone
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Publication number: 20030030311Abstract: A web adjuster for varying a length of a web. The web adjuster has a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a frame including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The adjuster may include a coupling device, such as another web or a snap hook, to operatively anchor the coupling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: Gregory L. Woodard, Guy R. Dingman, Michael A. Wiseman
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Patent number: 6517163Abstract: A force deflection device (1) is disclosed for adapting a lap strap to enhance the comfort of the wearer and optimize the introduction of forces for use by pregnant women and the overweight, comprising a force deflection strap (6) with a first end, which is to be attached to the lap strap, and a second end, which is to be passed through the gap between the seat cushion and the seat back and to be attached to the seat. This second end of the force deflection strap (6) has attached to it a fixing element (2), which is preferably plate-shaped, that cannot pass through said gap in a transverse position relative to the seat. The fixing element (2) can be attached to the rear side of the seat back by means of a hook and loop fastener (3). At its first end, the force deflection strap (6) preferably has a hook (4) and eyes (5) that can be hooked into the latter, allowing it to be looped around the lap strap.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael Herrmann
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Patent number: 6513873Abstract: When no child seat is attached to a folding adult seat of an automotive vehicle, the seat bottom of the adult seat is retained in a first locked state relative to the floor of the vehicle by means of a first locking mechanism alone. When an ISO-FIX child seat is attached to the adult seat, the seat bottom of the adult seat is retained in an additional locked state relative to the vehicle floor by a second locking mechanism that automatically locks the seat bottom by being operated on by part of the child seat as the child seat is moved toward and engaged with the seat. In this case, the second locking mechanism that is directly operated on by the attached child seat is constructed to perform a primary seat-bottom locking function to lock the seat bottom relative to the vehicle floor, while the first locking mechanism performs an auxiliary seat-bottom locking function.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken KogyolKabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiko Tsuda, Seiji Waku
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Patent number: 6494535Abstract: A device is utilized which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Inventor: John Alexander Galbreath
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Patent number: 6485102Abstract: The instant invention relates to a method and system of securing a child seat in a vehicle that includes a child seat and a child restraint seat and where the child seat has rearwardly projecting anchorage means and a tether hook, and the child restraint seat is an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame or it is installed as OEM in the vehicle and two front projecting loops are provided that engage with the two rearwardly projecting anchorage means of the child seat and a rearwardly projecting loop that engages the tether hook of the child seat and the said three loops are physically attached to a tubular frame of the child restraint seat and are a permanent and integral part thereof to anchor said child seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Freedman Seating CompanyInventors: Michael Douglas Moffa, Erin Renee Reichenberger
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Patent number: 6485055Abstract: A safety restraint anchoring device for use in a vehicle includes an anchor plate having an opening defined therethrough, the plate being adapted to have multiple portions thereof fixed to a support panel in a vehicle body, and a rigid rod member connected to the anchor plate. The rod member has a loop shaped portion extending through the opening and projecting away from said plate, and the loop shaped portion is adapted to securely receive a child restraint seat attachment tether. The rod member also has ends welded to a surface of the anchor plate and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through the opening in the plate. The anchor plate is adapted to be welded or otherwise fixed to a lower surface of the support panel and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through an opening defined in the support panel and projects away from the support panel when the anchor plate is fixed to the support panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Andrew K. Swayne, Aron K. Madsen, Jeffrey P. Tiefenthaler, Kazuhiko Maruyama
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Patent number: 6481800Abstract: A bench-type dinette seat frame includes a pair of spaced-apart anchor bars positioned at the junction of a seat section and a back section of the dinette frame and a third attachment point positioned above and intermediate the first and second spaced apart anchors to provide a three-point attachment of a child safety seat to the dinette frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Coachmen Recreational Vehicle CompanyInventor: Gary L. Duncan
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Patent number: 6478376Abstract: A vehicle seat construction includes a reinforcement member, which is secured on a frame of a vehicle seat main body, and anchor bars fixed on the reinforcement member such that connector portions of a child seat can be brought into releasable engagement with the anchor bars, respectively. The vehicle seat main body is provided with a seat cushion and a seatback. The anchor bars are fixed on upper portions of the reinforcement member, respectively, such that guide portions for guiding the corresponding connector portions of the child seat to the associated anchor bars are located below the anchor bars.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K., Namba Press Works Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takehito Hayashi, Koji Mizuno, Shingo Kutomi, Yasushi Kodani, Takeshi Matsuoka
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Publication number: 20020149243Abstract: The invention is a device which connects a child safety seat, such as that used in an automobile, to an anchor bar installed in the automobile. The connector includes an anchor end adapted to engage the anchor bar, and a child seat end adapted for connecting to either flexible webbing or a solid connection point on a child safety seat. The anchor end has an inwardly beveled surface which forms a docking guide. The docking guide surrounds a rectangular area in the center of the anchor end, wherein a latch plate is located. In operation, the anchor end of the connector is positioned over and urged toward the anchor bar. The beveled front surface of the latch plate allows the anchor bar to urge the latch plate upward, against the resistance provided by a biasing spring. The connector is further urged onto the anchor bar until the anchor bar passes under the latch plate and into an anchor bar cavity, which retains the anchor bar within the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventor: John Alexander Galbreath
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Publication number: 20020109382Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: Freedman Seating CompanyInventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
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Patent number: 6425632Abstract: A coupling and web adjuster to attach an infant seat to the passenger seat of a vehicle having a fixedly mounted rigid member to which the seat may be attached. The web adjuster has a cylindrical bar with a generally oval cross-section and a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends; a web that extends at least partially around the bar, a frame with a pair of channels in which the ears of the bar may slide, and one or more mechanical springs to normally push the bar toward the web stop and against the web. One version of the coupling is characterized by a frame having a notch on its distal end with a mouth/seat that is adapted to receive the fixedly mounted rigid member and a lever that is pivotally mounted inside the frame to hold the rigid member inside the mouth. The lever has a downwardly projecting finger that blocks the mouth of the notch when moved in one direction and allows access to the notch when moved in the other direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1999Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: James T. Anthony, Harold L. Forth, Guy R. Dingman, Steven T. Berenyi
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Patent number: 6416129Abstract: A child seat anchoring structure is provided that can prevent the seat belt webbing from getting caught in the components that secure the child seat to the vehicle. The child seat anchoring structure has child seat attachment part in which a child seat is installed by moving a locking part of the child seat from the forward direction of the vehicle so that the locking part approaches the rod-shaped attachment part of a child seat fixing striker that is mounted close to a seat belt anchor to which the webbing is fixed. The structure is provided with a webbing guide bar part that prevents the webbing from entering the region between the rod-shaped attachment part and the locking part of the child seat.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshio Hirota
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Patent number: 6416128Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat, an ISO FIX bar for securing a child seat to the seat, and a covering member for covering the seat. The covering member has a slit portion for the ISO FIX bar to be exposed to a vehicle room, and has an extending portion extending from one side of the slit portion. The vehicle seat also has an elastic board. The elastic board has a flat shape and an inserting portion to be inserted in a spacing of the ISO FIX bar. The elastic board is attached to a backside of a periphery of the slit portion of the covering member. The extending portion of the covering member is attached on an upper surface of the inserting portion of the elastic board, wherein the upper surface faces a side of the vehicle room. The inserting portion of the elastic board is inserted in the spacing of the ISO FIX bar, so that the ISO FIX bar is positioned at the slit portion of the covering member.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yukinori Fujii
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Patent number: 6390560Abstract: An adjustable anchor assembly is designed to provide an anchor for a child restraint seat at the intersection of a back cushion and a bottom cushion of a seat in the interior of an automobile. The adjustable anchor assembly includes a housing designed to mount to a support member adjacent the intersection of the back and bottom cushions. An anchor member has an attachment end designed to provide an attachment for a child restraint seat and a mounting end. An adjustment device adjustably interconnects the housing with the mounting end of the anchor member and is operable to change the distance between the housing and the anchor member.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc.Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi, Christian Arthur Trager, Richard Monroe Sullivan
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Patent number: 6375260Abstract: A child seat is formed of a child seat main portion for holding a child, and a base on which the child seat main portion is detachably mounted. The base has a connecting portion to be connected to a vehicle, and a fixing device engageable with an engaging member of the child seat main portion. An engagement releasing member is installed in one of the base and the child seat main portion for releasing an engagement between the fixing device and the engaging member. In the child seat, a permission member is formed to cooperate with the connecting portion for allowing the child seat main portion to engage the base only when the base is connected to the vehicle. The child seat can be easily fixed to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignees: Takata Corporation, Toyota Motor CorporationInventors: Koji Hiramatsu, Toshiaki Iwasaki, Atsushi Hiroshige, Shunichi Katsumata
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Publication number: 20020043839Abstract: A child seat anchoring structure is provided that can prevent the seat belt webbing from getting caught in the components that secure the child seat to the vehicle. The child seat anchoring structure has child seat attachment part in which a child seat is installed by moving a locking part of the child seat from the forward direction of the vehicle so that the locking part approaches the rod-shaped attachment part of a child seat fixing striker that is mounted close to a seat belt anchor to which the webbing is fixed. The structure is provided with a webbing guide bar part that prevents the webbing from entering the region between the rod-shaped attachment part and the locking part of the child seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Inventor: Toshio Hirota
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Publication number: 20020038968Abstract: A child safety seat comprises a seat structure having a base support surface for resting on a vehicle seat cushion, and a seating surface for a child occupant, the seating surface. A rigid link is attached to the child seat structure solely by a coupling mechanism that permits angular movement of the child seat structure relative to the rigid links about an axis located above the base support surface. A releasable connector is mounted on the rigid link for engagement with a standard anchorage unit associated with the vehicle seat. The child safety seat may be either forward facing or rearward facing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Inventors: Dieter Maier, Hermann Schall
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Patent number: 6354648Abstract: A child-restraint system is mounted in relation to a seat of a motor vehicle by a mount which includes a base portion secured to the vehicle structure and a mounting portion which extends to an accessible position upon the seat where it may be engaged by the restraint system, the mounting portion being able to be moved from its position on the seat when it is not required to be engaged by the child-restraint system.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Ian Leonard Allan, Jens Sauer
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Patent number: 6325454Abstract: A child safety seat comprises a child seat structure having a base support surface for resting on a vehicle seat cushion and a back support surface for abutting against the seat back of the vehicle seat. A rigid link is pivotally attached to the child seat structure so as to project from the child seat structure between the base support surface and the back support surface. A releasable connector is mounted on the rigid link for engagement with a standard anchorage unit associated with the vehicle seat. In the event of sudden deceleration, both the front and rear edges of the base support surface are pressed downwards into the vehicle seat cushion simultaneously. This results in a reduction of the extend of forward excursion of the child's head.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbHInventor: Dieter Maier