Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into child seat
Patent
1998-11-30
2000-09-19
Nelson, Jr., Milton
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into child seat
2972501, B60N 200
Patent
active
06120093&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a child seat arrangement for an automotive vehicle, said vehicle having front seats and rear seats in a passenger space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional larger estate cars, vans and so called mini-vans--often collectively referred to as Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPV)--are designed to be readily converted for a variety of user modes including transportation of adult passengers, children and/or cargo or combinations thereof.
The floor of an MPV often constitutes a relatively flat surface provided with a plurality of recessed tracks, slots and other coupling devices for fastening seats, partitions or accessories such as child seats in various alternative positions for obtaining flexibility of use. However, these fastening means are not yet optimized concerning their ability to safely hold said accessories, seats e.t.c. in position during collisions.
Child seats are normally fitted to the vehicle either in the front or rear seats or in the rear cargo space located behind the rear seats. A common problem with these child seat positions is that the child either experiences a limited outward view which invokes travel sickness, or feels cut off from social contact with other passengers. Additionally, by placing the child seat in said positions, the child seat occupies space which is otherwise normally used for passengers or cargo. This fact is particularly noticeable if the child seat is placed in the front seat which then can no longer serve as a seat for an adult passenger. Furthermore, by placing the child seat in the rear cargo space, the child is particularly exposed to injuries in the event of a rear collision.
In view of the above, the inventor has identified a need for a child seat arrangement for an automotive vehicle which safely holds one or more child seats in a safe position in said vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, this has been accomplished by the invention of a child seat securing arrangement in which a first transverse beam is disposed on the floor of the automotive vehicle and a second transverse beam parallel to the first is disposed on the roof of the automotive vehicle. The first and second transverse beams have first and second attachment mechanisms respectively for securing the child seat using upper and lower fastening members respectively.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the first and second attachment mechanisms of the first and second transverse beams include a longitudinal slot that extends parallel to the first and second transverse beams for receiving the upper and lower fastening members of the child seat respectively.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal slot comprising the first and second attachment mechanisms extends along the entire length of the first and second transverse beams and is capable of securing a plurality of such child seats side-by-side along the length of said first and second transverse beams.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower fastening members of the child seat include a T-shaped extension which slidably engages the longitudinal slots in the first and second transverse beams for securing the child seat.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the child seat is exposed so that an occupant of the child seat faces in a normal direction of travel of the motor vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following by way of example only and reference to the attached drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an automotive vehicle comprising the beam structure according to the invention with an attached child seat; and
FIG. 2 shows a view from above of the vehicle in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 generally denotes an automotive vehicle body comprising a beam structure according to the invention. More particularly,
REFERENCES:
patent: 1451655 (1923-04-01), Gilley
patent: 4249769 (1981-02-01), Barecki
patent: 5118163 (1992-06-01), Brittian et al.
patent: 5344212 (1994-09-01), Muller et al.
patent: 5746465 (1998-05-01), Jones et al.
AB Volvo
Jr. Milton Nelson
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