GB1598398A - Child's safety equipment for motor vehicles - Google Patents
Child's safety equipment for motor vehicles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB1598398A GB1598398A GB24404/78A GB2440478A GB1598398A GB 1598398 A GB1598398 A GB 1598398A GB 24404/78 A GB24404/78 A GB 24404/78A GB 2440478 A GB2440478 A GB 2440478A GB 1598398 A GB1598398 A GB 1598398A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- strap
- frame
- buckle
- clamping
- safety
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
- A44B11/02—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps
- A44B11/06—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices
- A44B11/12—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices turnable clamp
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
- B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
- B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
- B60N2/2839—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle having a front guard or barrier
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
- B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
- B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
- B60N2/2857—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle characterised by the peculiar orientation of the child
- B60N2/286—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle characterised by the peculiar orientation of the child forward facing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
- B60R22/30—Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
Description
(54) CHILD'S SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
(71) We, BRITAX-EXCELSIOR LI
MITED, a British Company of Proctor
Works, Chertsey Road, Byfleet, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat, which seat is fitted with safety strap portions for restraining an adult. The apparatus includes child restraint means such as a trough-like shell or car bed for receiving an infant, or a child seat fitted with a torso restraining pad, or a torso restraining pad, per se, for respectively larger children. The apparatus enables such restraint means to be releasably fitted to the vehicle seat.
Known child restraint means are usually fixed to one of the rear seats of the vehicle by first appropriately adjusting the length of the adult vehicle seat safety strap portions, then connecting releasable fastener or locking parts provided thereon to complementary fastener or locking parts at the ends of connecting strap portions fitted to the child restraint means. If the child restraint means is removed, the adult strap portions are again adjusted so that the fastener parts thereon can be connected directly together to restrain an adult. However, a necessary condition for such double utility is that the fastener parts of the adult safety strap portions fit those of the connecting strap portions. If this condition is not met because, for example, the vehicle seat has already been provided with adult safety strap portions with fastener parts which are not compatible with those on the connecting strap portions of the child restraint means, then either the adult safety strap portions must be exchanged, or else additional strap portions must be fitted to the vehicle seat with compatible fastener parts whereby the vehicle seat is equipped with two pairs of safety strap portions. This leads to further expense and inconvenience.
The invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages, and its underlying aim is consequently to provide apparatus wherein the connecting strap portions for child restraint means can be attached to adult safety strap portions fitted to a vehicle seat without regard to the type of fasteners fitted to the respective strap portions.
The invention provides safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions, the apparatus comprising child restraint means provided with connecting strap portions extending at respective sides thereof for releasable attachment to the respective adult safety strap portions of the vehicle seat; buckle means attached to said connecting strap portions, each of said buckle means having an aperture to receive a loop of the respective adult safety strap portion; and clamping means for the buckle means, each clamping means being provided for insertion in said strap loop and to be received in said aperture whereby, when so fitted and tension is applied to said adult safety strap portions, each clamping means is subject to a couple relative to the respective buckle means so as to clamp the respective adult strap portions between it and said buckle means.
The invention may therefore be embodied to enable attachment of the respective strap portions by the use of connectors (i.e.
the buckle and clamping means) which permit slidable adjustment but which clamp the vehicle seat strap portions without slippage under tensile loading. As the connectors can be fitted at any convenient points along the adult strap portions, it is unnecessary to modify the length adjustment of the adult vehicle seat safety strap portions as before. The adult safety strap portions can then be left either fastened or unfastened. If either of the adult safety strap portions are fitted to a retractor for rewinding the respective strap portion on a storage reel when not in use, that strap portion can be fully extracted before the respective conductor is fitted. This eliminates the freedom of movement which is undesirable for children, but which is normally provided by a retractor.
Preferably, each buckle means defines a frame surrounding said aperture, the respective clamping means being a member with a first portion or guide piece insertable in said aperture and at least one second portion or clamping piece which overlies part of the frame so as to clamp the vehicle seat strap portion between it and said frame part when said tension is applied.
Preferably, there is some free play or clearance between the first portion of said member and the side of said part of the frame which bounds the aperture, when said first portion is received in said aperture.
This facilitates or promotes the tilting or rotation of the member about an axis oriented at right angles to the direction of said tension (when applied to the respective vehicle seat safety strap portion) and parallel to the plane of the buckle frame. This has the result that the respective strap portion is clamped in the buckle frame on two clamp lines, namely firstly between said second portion and a corresponding second arm part of the frame which said second portion overlies, and secondly between said first portion and a corresponding first arm part of the frame which lies opposite said first arm part. This double clamping action is provided when said member has an approximately T-shaped or L-shaped crosssection seen transversely to the direction of said tension, the stem of the T or the upright part of the L constituting said first portion, the cross bar of the T and the lower part of the L constituting said second portion. The first and second portions of said member may be separate or connected by an articulation which does not impair said tilting or rotation of said clamping means relative to said buckle means. In the latter case, the articulation may be provided at respective ends of an elongate frame shaped buckle and insertable member, and a fastener provided at the other respective and opposite ends thereof to prevent release of said clamping means or excessive strap slackness when no tension is applied to the vehicle seat safety strap portions.
The connecting strap portions may be permanently or releasably attached to the child restraint means. In the latter case a releasable fastener part is provided on each connecting strap portion and at each side of the child restraint means. In the latter case, the child restraint means can be removed from the vehicle seat without disturbing the buckle means and clamping means. This is convenient for the temporary use of the vehicle seat strap portions by an adult after the removal of the child restraining means.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure I is a schematic perspective view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 shows a cross-section through clamping means and buckle means to which a vehicle seat strap portion is attached and which are parts of the apparatus shown in
Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows another cross-section of similar parts according to another embodiment.
Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of clamping means and buckle means according to a further embodiment.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, child restraint means comprises a child's seat 1 with a torso restraining pad 2 extending over and engaging arm rests on the child's seat.
The child's seat 1 and pad 2 are secured to the rear seat 3 of the motor vehicle (shown only schematically) by portions of an adult safety strap 5 (intended for securing an adult person) and by portions of a connecting strap 4 (for attaching pad 2 and seat 1 to strap 5). Strap 5 has two portions 5.1 which are respectively anchorable behind the vehicle seat 3 and hence at attachment points of the vehicle not visible in Figure 1. Only the strap portion 5.1 located on the left-hand side of the child's seat 1 is illustrated in
Figure 1 and identified by dotting, whereas the portion of the strap 5 located on the right-hand side of the seat 1 is not visible.
These two strap portions 5.1 can be attached directly together by fastener or locking parts 5.2, namely a tongue and buckle (of which only the tongue is visible in Figure 1) as is necessary to secure an adult on the vehicle seat 3. Buckle and clamping means generally indicated by reference 6 are used to join the connecting strap portions 4 to the respective adult safety strap portions 5.1 at each side of the child's seat 1. Such means are slidably adjustable on the strap portions 5.1, between fastener parts 5.2 and the anchorable end of strap portions 5.1 (not visible in Figure 1) but which nevertheless become firmly clamped and slip-proof under tensile loading. The fastening or locking parts 5.2 of the strap portions 5.1 are therefore not required for attachment of the child restraint means. The adult strap 5 can therefore, as illustrated in Figure 1 be left unfastened, but obviously and alternatively fastened. The means 6 are more easily located at convenient positions along the length of the strap sections 5.1 which are visible in Figure 1 and which are comfortably accessible on the vehicle seat 3. No modification of the length adjustment of the safety strap 5 is necessary for attaching the child's seat 1 and pad 2 to the vehicle seat 3 because the buckle and clamping means 6 can be used readily to secure seat 1 and pad 2 to adult strap portions 5.1 (as explained below) which have the necessary accessible length for safe attachment. The connecting strap portions 4 are each of two-part construction, the two strap parts being connected by fastening or locking parts 4.1, such as a tongue and buckle as shown in
Figure 1. The child's seat 1 can then be removed from the vehicle seat 3 by simply releasing the fasteners, the buckle and clamping means 6 remaining untouched.
The buckle and clamping means 6 may be embodied as shown respectively by Figures 2-4. In each embodiment, the buckle means includes a substantially elongate or rectangular frame 6.1 having an aperture therein to receive a loop of the safety belt portion 5.1 (see Figures 2 and 3). The clamping means comprises an elongate member 6.2 having, for example, the T-shaped or shaped cross-section seen in Figures 2 and 3.
Each member 6.2 has a first portion or guide piece 9 for insertion in the frame aperture and a second portion or clamping piece 8 which overlies part of the frame namely, one of the arms 6.3. One end of each connecting strap portion 4 is attached to the other one of the two parallel frame arms 6.3. Referring to Figures 2 or 3 which each show the respective adult safety belt portion 5.1, the member 6.2 is inserted in the loop of the strap portion 5.1 which is pulled through the aperture in the frame and the first portion or guide piece is then inserted into the frame aperture so that the second portion or clamping piece 8 clamps the strap portion in region 11, and the first portion or guide piece 9 bears against the strap portion 5.1 in region 12, when tension is applied to portion 5.1 in the direction of arrows 7.7'. It will be noted in Figure 2 that one side of the clamping piece 8 namely, that side nearest the connecting strap portion 4, is not as thick as the other side which clamps the strap portion 5.1 to the corresponding frame arm 6.3 at region 11. The strap portion thus passes substantially freely between the region 12 over the clamping piece 8 to region 11. The arrangement of Figure 3 is different in that an L-shaped member is used.
However, in both cases there is free play or a clearance between one side of the guide piece 9 and the strap portion 5.1 passing around the frame arm 6.3 associated with the region 11.
Under the tensile loading 7,7', the member 6.2 and hence the clamping piece 8 tilts or rotates in the direction of arrow 10 due to the tension in the strap portion 5.1, the torque increasing as the tension loading increases. The rotation occurs in the direction of tension 7, about an axis at right angles to said direction and located parallel to the plane of the buckle frame 6.1. Said rotation has the effect that the strap section 5.1 is clamped along two clamping lines at the regions 11 and 12. As can be seen from both Figures 2 and 3, the directions of the clamping forces in the regions 11, 12 are oriented substantially mutually at right angles, namely at right angles to the plane of the buckle frame 6.1 in the case of the region 11, and parallel thereto in the case of region 12.
Figure 4 illustrates buckle and clamping means 6 in an embodiment in which the clamping piece 6.2 is maintained nondetachably on the buckle frame 6.1. In detail, the clamping piece 6.2 is articulated to the buckle frame 6.3 and can pivot transversely to the direction of tension at one end 13.
The clamping piece 6.2 is shown in its upwardly pivoted or open position, from which it can be hinged down into a closed position in the direction of the arrow 14.
The articulation of the clamping piece 6.2 is made in such a way that, in its closed position, it is rotatable within limits about its longitudinal axis, which then lies substantially at right angles to the joint axis and to the direction of tension, in order to make possible the previously described double clamping action in spite of the articulation of the clamping piece 6.2 to the buckle frame 6.1. In this embodiment, rotary mobility of the clamp piece 6.2 is ensured by a correspondingly great free play in its articulation to the buckle frame 6.1. Figure 4 also shows that the clamping piece 6.2 has at its end opposite the articulated end a locking lug 15 by which it is lockable in the closed position without impairing it rotary mobility on the buckle frame 6.1, so that in the unloaded case any accidental release of the means 6, or accidental displacement of means 6 on strap portion 5.1 leading to excessive strap slackness, is prevented.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. Safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions, the apparatus comprising child restraint means provided with
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (10)
1. Safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions, the apparatus comprising child restraint means provided with
connecting strap portions extending at respective sides thereof for releasable attachment to the respective adult safety strap portions of the vehicle seat; buckle means attached to said connecting strap portions, each of said buckle means having an aperture to receive a loop of the respective adult safety strap portion; and clamping means for the buckle means, each clamping means being provided for insertion in said strap loop and to be received in said aperture whereby, when so fitted and tension is applied to said adult safety strap portions, each clamping means is subject to a couple relative to the respective buckle means so as to clamp the respective adult strap portions between it and said buckle means.
2. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said buckle means defines an elongate frame surrounding said aperture which is also elongate, and each said clamping means comprises an elongate member having a first portion insertable in said aperture and a second portion which overlies part of the frame when said first portion is inserted in said aperture, said first portion being thinner than the width of the aperture, in the plane of the frame, to provide freeplay or a clearance between said first portion and a longitudinal arm of said frame.
3. Safety apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said member has a T-shaped crosssection, the stem of the T forming said first portion and a first part of the cross-bar of the T forming said second portion.
4. Safety apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said member has an L-shaped cross-section, the upright art of the L forming said first portion and the lower part of the L forming said second portion.
5. Safety apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said member is articulated on said frame.
6. Safety apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means are provided for fastening said member to said frame.
7. Safety apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said connecting strap portions are detachably secured to the child restraint means by fasteners.
8. Safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
9. Safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
10. Safety apparatus for restraining a child on a vehicle seat fitted with adult safety strap portions substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE2741555 | 1977-09-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB1598398A true GB1598398A (en) | 1981-09-16 |
Family
ID=6019030
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB24404/78A Expired GB1598398A (en) | 1977-09-15 | 1978-05-30 | Child's safety equipment for motor vehicles |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB1598398A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3541413A1 (en) * | 1985-11-23 | 1987-05-27 | Autoflug Gmbh | Buckle for a safety belt |
| US4944557A (en) * | 1988-05-27 | 1990-07-31 | Ryozo Tsubai | Seat belt handle assembly |
| GB2230938A (en) * | 1989-05-06 | 1990-11-07 | David Partridge | Seat belt adjuster |
| GB2262025A (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1993-06-09 | Takata Corp | Adjusting the position of the fastening means of a vehicle seat belt when used to secure an infant seat |
| US7004547B1 (en) * | 2004-08-30 | 2006-02-28 | Sheng-Hsiung Cheng | Safety belt positioning device |
| WO2015169330A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-12 | Cybex Gmbh | Restraining element |
| CN115320461A (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2022-11-11 | 明门瑞士股份有限公司 | Child restraint base and child restraint system thereof |
-
1978
- 1978-05-30 GB GB24404/78A patent/GB1598398A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3541413A1 (en) * | 1985-11-23 | 1987-05-27 | Autoflug Gmbh | Buckle for a safety belt |
| US4944557A (en) * | 1988-05-27 | 1990-07-31 | Ryozo Tsubai | Seat belt handle assembly |
| GB2230938A (en) * | 1989-05-06 | 1990-11-07 | David Partridge | Seat belt adjuster |
| GB2262025A (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1993-06-09 | Takata Corp | Adjusting the position of the fastening means of a vehicle seat belt when used to secure an infant seat |
| FR2684613A1 (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1993-06-11 | Takata Corp | DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE LOCKING POSITION OF A FASTENING MEANS IN A SEAT BELT DEVICE. |
| GB2262025B (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1995-10-04 | Takata Corp | Seat belt adjuster |
| US7004547B1 (en) * | 2004-08-30 | 2006-02-28 | Sheng-Hsiung Cheng | Safety belt positioning device |
| WO2015169330A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-12 | Cybex Gmbh | Restraining element |
| CN115320461A (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2022-11-11 | 明门瑞士股份有限公司 | Child restraint base and child restraint system thereof |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5061012A (en) | Child car seat with automatic harness adjustment | |
| US4685741A (en) | Child passenger securing apparatus | |
| US6428254B2 (en) | Wheelchair restraint system for a transportation vehicle | |
| KR100204429B1 (en) | Child seat for a vehicle and a seat belt system for the child seat | |
| EP0732235B1 (en) | Child safety seat | |
| US4604773A (en) | Automobile seat belt tightener for use with child safety seats | |
| US5472236A (en) | Seat belt shoulder strap adjustment guide apparatus | |
| US3941419A (en) | Buckle component for a vehicle occupant restraint belt system | |
| US4946198A (en) | Child safety strap | |
| EP1193111A2 (en) | Shoulder harness for child seat | |
| CN113071388A (en) | Child safety seat | |
| US20020043836A1 (en) | Tether strap that allows rotation of a safety seat about a vertical axis | |
| JPH05211908A (en) | Vehicular safety device and tongue assembly for said safety device | |
| US4392277A (en) | Lock tongue for safety belts | |
| US3351382A (en) | Safety harnesses for vehicle occupants | |
| US5328249A (en) | Seat belt system | |
| US4762369A (en) | Harness with strap length adjustment device | |
| GB1598398A (en) | Child's safety equipment for motor vehicles | |
| US4580842A (en) | Restraining means for a child car seat | |
| WO1986002050A1 (en) | Child safety seat | |
| US3494664A (en) | Latch for safety belts | |
| KR200177910Y1 (en) | Seat belt of 4 point lock | |
| US3371942A (en) | Combination seat belt and upper torso restraint | |
| EP0650872B1 (en) | A harness arrangement | |
| EP0835192B1 (en) | Baby cot for fixing in a vehicle equipped with seat-belts |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949] | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |