Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-28
2003-05-13
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S734000, C701S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561543
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular child seat detection system and, more specifically, relates to a vehicular child seat detection system for detecting whether or not a child seat has been laid on a front passenger seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is provided a vehicular child seat detection system for detecting whether or not a child seat has been laid on a front passenger seat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,356 discloses one such example.
As shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15
, a child seat
100
disclosed in this U.S. Patent has a seat bottom
102
that is fixed to frames
104
,
106
for securing the seat bottom
102
to a vehicular seat. On the other hand, anchors
110
,
120
and
130
are fixed to a frame member of a front passenger seat
150
of the vehicle. Lock clamps
112
and
114
are provided at respective ends of the frame
104
, while lock clamps
116
and
118
are provided at respective ends of the frame
106
. These lock clamps
112
,
114
,
116
and
118
allow the child seat
100
to be fastened to or released from the anchors of the vehicular seat. As shown in
FIG. 15
, the lock clamp
114
, which receives the anchor
110
, is composed of a movable bar
160
, a top bar
162
and a spring
164
. The movable bar
160
has a curved portion for locking engagement. The top bar
162
is formed at the end of the frame
104
, and the movable bar
160
is rotatably fixed to the top bar
162
via a pivot shaft
168
. The spring
164
urges pivotal rotation of the movable bar
160
. In fastening the child seat
100
to the front passenger seat
150
, the movable bar
160
is caused to rotate so as to receive the anchor
110
in the curved portion. In this manner, the child seat
100
is fastened to the front passenger seat
150
.
On the other hand, an electrical switch
180
is provided contiguous to one of the anchors
110
. As shown in
FIG. 15
, when the child seat
100
has been set properly with respect to the front passenger seat
150
, the leading end of the top bar
162
presses a plunger
182
of the switch
180
, which then outputs an ON-signal. In this manner, it is detected whether or not the child seat
100
is located suitably. Based on the detection result, other vehicular functional elements including a passenger restraint system such as an air bag device are controlled.
It is true that the vehicular child seat detection system of this type can detect whether or not the child seat
100
is located suitably. However, this system is incapable of detecting whether or not the lock clamps
112
,
114
,
116
and
118
of the child seat
100
have been securely fastened to the anchors
110
,
120
and
130
of the vehicular seat. For example, a slight discrepancy in location between one of the lock clamps of the child seat and a corresponding one of the anchors of the vehicular seat may hinder secure attachment of the child seat to the vehicular seat. Such inconvenience may also be caused if the movable bar of the lock clamp does not move smoothly. The aforementioned system, which merely detects whether or not the child seat has been set in proper location, cannot detect whether or not the locking mechanism of the child seat has been securely fastened to the vehicular seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-described background, the present invention aims at providing a vehicular child seat detection system capable of detecting whether or not the child seat has been securely mounted to the vehicular seat.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular child seat detection system that includes a fixture bar and child seat detection means. Fixture attachments, which are integrally attached to a vehicular seat, are detachably coupled to the fixture bar. The fixture attachments extend from a child seat in a fore-to-aft direction thereof and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the direction of the width of the child seat. The fixture attachments are provided with latches allowing the child seat to be fastened to or released from a vehicular seat. The child seat detection means detects whether or not the child seat has been mounted, based on movements of at least one of the latches resulting from coupling of the fixture attachments to the fixture bar.
Accordingly, in mounting the child seat to the vehicular seat, the child seat detection means detects, based on movements of at least one of the latches resulting from coupling of the fixture attachments to the fixture bar, whether or not the child seat has been securely fastened to the vehicular seat. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the child seat has been firmly mounted to the vehicle.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the fixture attachments may be provided with groove portions in which the fixture bar is accommodated when the fixture attachments are coupled to the fixture bar. In this case, in coupling the child seat to the vehicular seat, the latches reduce an opening width of the groove portions so as to prevent the fixture bar from falling off the groove portions.
Furthermore, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fixture bar may hang across left and right seat frames of the vehicular seat.
The vehicular child seat detection system of the first aspect may be modified according to a second aspect of the present invention. In this case, the child seat detection means is composed of a rod and a switch. The rod is parallel to the fixture bar and longer than the distance between the fixture attachments. The switch is disposed substantially at a central portion of the rod and activated when a distance between the fixture bar and the rod becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value due to the latches.
Accordingly, in mounting the child seat to the vehicular seat, if the fixture attachments for the child seat are coupled to the fixture bar hanging across the seat frames of the vehicular seat, the latches of the fixture attachments become sandwiched between the fixture bar and the rod and thus enlarge a space therebetween. Consequently, when the distance between the fixture bar and the rod becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the switch is activated to detect whether or not the child seat has been mounted properly. Thus, with a simple structure, it is possible to detect whether or not the child seat has been mounted properly. Furthermore, the switch can be designed to be activated when the distance between the fixture bar and the rod reaches a value in the case where both the left and right fixture attachments engage the fixture bar. In this case, the use of one switch is sufficient to detect whether or not the child seat has been mounted properly.
The vehicular child seat detection system of the first aspect may be modified according to a third aspect of the present invention. In this case, the child seat detection means is set opposed to at least one of the left and right fixture attachments for the child seat. The child seat detection means is composed of a base body, moving means and a switch. The base body is attached to the fixture bar. The moving means is accommodated in the base body, pressed toward the fixture bar by urging means, and caused to move away from the fixture bar by at least one of the latches. The switch is activated due to a movement of the moving means.
Accordingly, in mounting the child seat to the vehicular seat, if the fixture attachments for the child seat are coupled to the fixture bar, the moving means, which is pressed towards the fixture bar, is caused to move away from the fixture bar by at least one of the latches of the fixture attachments. In response to this movement of the moving means, the switch is activated to detect whether or not the child seat has been mounted properly. Thus, with a simple structure, it is possible to detect whether or not the child seat has been mounted securely.
In the third aspect of the present invention, the moving means may
Fujimoto Osamu
Hamada Makoto
Morris Lesley D.
Shriver J. Allen
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