Chairs and seats – Supplemental seat – Adjustable to plural operative positions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-07
2001-05-08
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Supplemental seat
Adjustable to plural operative positions
C297S250100, C297S284110, C297S284900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a child seat, in particular a child seat for a motor vehicle.
A multiplicity of children's seats are known. The most frequent are so-called bucket seats whose components, which comprise the seat part, backrest and head restraint, are assembled from half shells. Adapting the size to a growing child is allowed to some extent in that the distances of the shell parts from one another can be changed. However, the shell parts themselves are generally, as plastic parts, of rigid design and therefore only permit slight adaptation to the growing child. In the long term the seats are not comfortable and do not satisfy the orthopedic requirements. The child is held either by the child seat's own belt or by a seat belt of the vehicle seat on which the child seat has been placed. Although the second variant better transfers those forces which act upon the child into the vehicle in the event of a crash, smaller children, in particular, can only inadequately be held in the child seat in the event of slow movements because of the flexibility of the seat belt.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved child seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a child seat having a seat-surface structure connected to a back rest, wherein the seat-surface structure defines a seat surface having a length extending in a longitudinal direction. An adjustable portion of the seat-surface structure can be moved in substantially the longitudinal direction and secured relative to a second portion of the seat-surface structure that at least partially defines the seat surface.
The seat surface can be lengthened (or shortened) by virtue of the fact that one part of the seat-surface structure can be adjusted and secured in the longitudinal direction relative to those remaining parts of the seat-surface structure which define the seat surface. This enables adaptation to the continuing growth of the child, in particular from nine months to twelve years. The child is then able to hang his legs down comfortably over the end of the seat surface, while being securely supported, or place them on the seat surface, depending on the length of his legs. The adaptation can most simply be carried out on the child seat when it is not installed and can occasionally be changed depending on the growth rate of the child. In a preferred, simple design of an adjustable seat surface of this type, the adjustable part of the seat-surface structure is designed as a hoop which, guided by guide bushes, can be moved within a region of displacement, the guide bushes preferably being fastened to lateral parts of the child seat.
It is advantageous if a securing device is provided in the region of the seat surface, which securing device releasably secures the adjustable part of the seat-surface structure relative to the remaining parts thereof. A preferred, simple and, at the same time, stable structure results if the securing device releasably connects the hoop to at least one crosspiece running between two side parts of the seat-surface structure. The securing device can be attached at its front end by a socket to the hoop. With a plurality of ribs in its rear region for attaching it to the crosspiece, the securing device provides the option of securely holding the hoop, at different distances from the crosspiece.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the securing device can be pivoted about the hoop, with the socket as a bearing, so as to release the securing device. So that the securing device does not inadvertently become detached from the hoop or become wedged elsewhere, the pivoting region of the securing device is preferably restricted by means provided on the seat-surface structure and/or by means provided on the securing device. One such means can form the mat which is fixed in the seat-surface structure for the purpose of supporting the padding.
The securing device is advantageously designed at the same time as a ramp which rises from the rear to the front so that the child does not dive under the seat-belt in the event of the vehicle decelerating sharply.
An increase in seat comfort results from the inclination of the seat-surface structure being adjustable relative to the substructure. An adjustment of the inclination in a space-saving manner is possible if during the adjustment of the inclination the seat-surface structure is pivoted about a spatial shifting axis of rotation. This can be realized, for example, by the seat-surface structure having bearing bolts which are guided in slotted guides of the substructure. Alternatively, other guide parts could also be guided in corresponding slotted guide links.
In principle, numerous adjustments of the inclination are possible. However, for a simple and nevertheless comfortable design of the child seat it is sufficient for the seat-surface structure to be able to be secured in an essentially upright sitting position and an inclined sleeping position. In the case of the preferred design with bearing bolts it is possible, for example, for the securing to take place at least partially by the bearing bolts engaging into latching recesses of the slotted guides. In addition, a further securing in the sleeping and/or sitting position can take place by means of at least one pivotable latch which locks a bearing bolt in place. The preference for the upright sitting position because of the inherent weight of the child seat is possible if during the transfer from the sitting position into the sleeping position, the bearing bolts are moved obliquely upward into at least partially rising regions of the slotted guides, and the seat-surface structure is also raised as a result.
In order to obtain better sliding properties and to reduce the wear, the bearing bolts can be guided in separately formed sliding guides which function as the slotted guide, wherein the sliding guides are inserted into cutouts in the side walls of the substructure. The sliding guides are preferably made of a harder material than the side walls.
As a result of the fact that the backrest has a belt-retaining device which, in at least one operating mode, clamps a seatbelt in one pulling direction and releases it in the other pulling direction, the seatbelt can be fastened easily and securely on the child seat and can be removed again. With appropriate accessibility to the belt-retaining device it is also possible for the seatbelt to be introduced into the belt-retaining device without having to actuate the latter by hand.
The belt-retaining device advantageously has at least one pivotable, eccentrically mounted belt retainer with which the required asymmetry in both possible pulling directions is achieved. When the seatbelt bears against the belt retainer, it preferably carries along the latter in the event of being pulled. This is assisted if the belt retainer has increased friction at least over part of its outer surface. To improve the putting-on of the seatbelt, the belt retainer preferably has a rounded portion on its free end. Clamping is more simple if the belt retainer is spring-loaded in a pivoting direction and is pretensioned relative to a part of the belt-retaining device. In order to be able to fasten the child seat on the left or right on any vehicle seat, the belt-retaining device preferably has a respective belt retainer on the left and on the right side of the child seat.
In a second operating mode, which is preferably used for older children, the belt-retaining device loosely surrounds the seatbelt. This is advantageously achieved by the belt-retaining device having a pivotable projection which, when it bears against a part of the belt-retaining device, forms an annularly closed opening for the seatbelt. This projection may, for example, be provided on the free end of the belt retainer.
If the belt-retaining device has, as a supporting part, a hoop which is arranged on the backrest, this results in simple and cost-effi
Bertenburg Peter
Branke Ute
Frey Achim
Heller Rene
Kober Toni
Alston & Bird LLP
Jr. Milton Nelson
Recaro GmbH & Co.
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