GB2418225A

GB2418225A - A bayonet type releasable fastening for a child car seat

Info

Publication number: GB2418225A
Application number: GB0420608A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Anthony Levene; Ian Patrick Paton; Tim Scott; Samantha Jane Ellis
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2004-09-16
Filing date: 2004-09-16
Publication date: 2006-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-16
Also published as: GB2418225A8; DE102005042623B4; DE102005042623A1; GB0420608D0; GB2418225B

Abstract

In a motor vehicle, an anchorage device (11,111) for anchoring a child restraint system onto a vehicle passenger seat 11, and which comprises a base plate assembly (21,121) securable to the vehicle floor pan using existing seat securing points, anchorage means (10) in use disposed through a gap between the seat-cushion (4) and the seat-back (6) so that a child restraint system can be secured thereto and which are secured to the base plate assembly (21,121) by a releasable coupling device (34,63). The coupling device (34,63) allowing the anchorage means to be removed for stowage when the child restraint system is not in use. The coupling device may be spring biased releasable bayonet type. A plurality of couplings may be used (fig 2). The seat-back may be fixed or split in a 60/40 ratio. The anchorage device may be inclined (fig 4) to improve crash resistance. A tether loop may be affixed.

Description

24 1 8225 A Safety Seat Anchorage

Field

The present invention relates to an anchorage device for a child restraint system and which is an accessory in a post-production motor vehicle.

Background of the Invention.

The use of special Child Restraint System (CRS) for the transportation of child or infant in a motor vehicle is well established. Conventional child restraint systems utilise the passenger restraint belt system as a means of securing the child restraint system onto a motor vehicles passenger seat. Another more recent method of securing the child restraint system is the Isofix system (International Standard Organisation- Fix). The Isofix system secures the child restraint system onto a motor vehicles passenger seat, either front or rear, by a pair of..

latches within the child restraint system, which in turn are engaged onto a pair of rigid anchorage points built into the motor vehicles passenger seat, typically located at the seat.

bight, which is the intersection of the seat-back and seat-base. Both latches can be connected....

for use and released as required to remove the child restraint system from the motor vehicle. ..

The Isofix system may or may not incorporate a safety seat anti-rotation feature in the form of a top tether and / or a foot prop. Conventional linkages between the latches on the child restraint system and the anchorage points on the passenger seat are typically sufficiently rigid to secure a child restraint system to the passenger seat without the need for any other securing mechanism.

Due to the location of the rigid seat anchorage points, folding of the motor vehicles passenger seat back is made difficult, because the anchorages prevent the seat-back from being fully lowered. The anchorage points may also cause discomfort to a passenger sitting on the seat when the child restraint system is not mounted on the seat.

US 55941601 describes anchorage loop assemblies for attaching a child restraint system that do not interfere with seat-back folding and that do not reduce passenger comfort. The anchorage loop assemblies, used in pairs, are pivotally mounted to a fixed base, positioned in relation to the seat so that the anchorage loop assemblies can be pivoted between an in- use position in which they are upwardly disposed through a gap between the seat-cushion and the seat-back so that a child restraint system can be secured thereto and a stowage position in which the anchorage loop assemblies are downwardly disposed through the gap and hidden from position. Such child restraint system anchoring devices may be manufactured and sold separately from a motor vehicle. . .

The present invention provides an improved stowable anchorage assembly for use with a :' child restraint system.

Statements of Invention.

According to the present invention there is provided in a motor vehicle, an anchorage device for anchoring a child restraint system onto a vehicle passenger seat, the anchorage device comprising a base plate assembly securable to the vehicle floor pan using existing securing points for the vehicle seat, anchorage means secured to the base plate assembly and in use mounted in relation to the seat whereby the anchorage means are disposed through a gap between the seat-cushion and the seat-back so that a child restraint system can be secured thereto, and a releasable coupling device connecting the anchorage means to the base plate assembly allowing the anchorage means to be removed for stowage when the child restraint system is not in use.

The base plate assembly includes a base plate of one or more parts which are welded together to form a plate like structure having fixing points for securing to the vehicle floor pan.

Preferably the releasable coupling device is a bayonet type coupling device, more preferably comprising of a cross-pin on the anchorage means and a co-operating detent on the base plate assembly. The anchorage means when coupled to the base plate assembly is resiliently loaded away from the base plate assembly such that the resilient bias must be overcome before coupling and de-coupling of the anchorage means to or from the base plate assembly.

The anchorage means, preferably comprises of an anchor loop attached to one end of a shaft . . having the cross pin at its other end. .. :.

The detent on the base plate assembly comprises of a raised fixing plate having an elongated aperture therein through which the anchorage means shaft and cross pin can pass, with a :- groove on the rear face of the raised plate normal to the elongated aperture and which can accommodate said cross pin.

Preferably at least one fixed tether loop is provided on the base plate for receipt of a restraint attached to the upper portion of the child restraint system.

The anchorage device may comprise up to three anchorage means spaced across the base plate and a restraint system may comprise of one or more base plate assemblies.

The invention also comprises a motor vehicle having at least one anchorage device according to the present invention. Preferably the invention can be applied to motor vehicles with rear passenger seats which are either fixed one piece or split and the vehicle is provided with two anchorage devices according to the present invention, one device having three spaced apart anchorage means in a linear array thereon and a second device having a single anchorage means thereon.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an Isofix child restraint system mounted on a vehicle seat provided with an anchorage device in accordance with the A..

present invention. .

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of part of left hand and right hand anchorage .

devices both in accordance with the present invention. ..

FIG. 3 is an end view of the left hand anchorage device. FIG. 4 is an end view of the anchorage device oriented as secured to the floor pan of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of an anchorage means, detent and part of a base plate assembly.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an anchorage means uncoupled from the base plate assembly.

Detailed Description of the Invention

As shown in FIG. 1, an Isofix child restraint system 2 is provided with a pair of jaws 8 for securing to anchorage means 10 in a motor vehicle seat 1 1, by means of a known latch or clip mechanism (not shown). The anchorage means lo of the present invention are shown in an in-use position, disposed in the contact point between the seat-cushion 4 and seat back 6 of the motor vehicle seat and project through a gap there between. To secure the Isofix child restraint system 2, it is pushed back in the motor vehicle seat until the latch or clip mechanisms engage with the corresponding anchorage means 10. The Isofix child restraint system 2 may be provided with a top tether 5 which in some circumstances is used to limit rotation of the top portion of the Isofix child restraint system.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 to 6, the anchorage means 10 is part of an anchorage device. ., 11 or 111. The anchorage devices are a left hand device 11 having three spaced apart anchorage means 10 thereon (described in detail below), which in use is located mainly .

behind a larger left hand rear seat, and a right hand anchorage device 1 1 1 having a single ..

anchorage means 10 thereon which in use locates, together with one of the anchorage means . :e

at one end of the left hand device 11, behind a smaller right hand rear seat of 60:40 split rear seats. Both devices 1 1 and 1 1 1 comprise a base plate assembly 21, 121 having a base plate 20,120 shaped to match a particular area of the vehicle floor pan and having respective bolt holes 22,122 for securing the base plate to the floor pan (not shown). The base plate 20, 120 may be formed from a single part or a plurality parts welded or otherwise assembled together. The holes 22, 122 are located to align with points on the vehicle floor to which the seat is secured so that the seat and respective anchorage device are secured to the vehicle floor using the same fasteners, typically nuts and bolts. There are three anchorage means 10 __ 6 located in a linear array on the left hand base plate 11 and a single anchorage meanslO located on the right hand base plate 111.

All the anchorage means 10 are identical and therefore only one will be described in detail, it being understood that the others are identical. With particular reference also to FIG.5 and FIG.6, each anchorage means 10 comprises an anchorage loop sub-assembly having a cylindrical steel shaft 62 with a steel anchorage loop 61 at its head and a cross-pin 63 at its other end. The cross pin 63 extends diametrically through the shaft. A washer 64 may also be located on the shaft 62 and a coaxial coil spring 65 is located on the shaft 62 acting l O between the washer 64 and the head of the shaft.

Each anchorage loop sub assembly 1 0 is secured to its respective base plate assembly 2 1, 1 2 1., by a respective fixing plate assembly 30, only one of which will be described in detail. With reference also to FIG 5 each fixing plate assembly 30 comprises a sheet steel housing ': :. ''.

31 which is secured to its respective base plate 20,120 by for example spot welding. The ' housing 31 has substantially the shape of a top hat with a raised planar portion 33 with an aperture 32 therein. A locator plate 34 is secured on the underside of the housing 31 and has a raised central portion 35 which projects through the aperture 32 The locator plate 34 has an elongated aperture 36 therein shaped to accommodate the shaft 62 and cross pin 63 of the anchorage loop sub assembly 10. A groove or slot 37 is formed in the rear face of the locator plate 34 normal to the elongate aperture and which can accommodate the cross-pin 63.

The anchorage loop sub assembly 10 is coupled to the fixing plate assembly 30 by insertion of the shaft 62 and cross-pin 63 through the aperture 36 in the locator plate 34 compressing the spring 65 via the washer 64 and then twisting the shaft through 90 degrees to engage the cross pin 63 in the groove 37. The spring 65 then biases the shaft 62 to retain the pin 63 in position. The seating of the pin 63 in the groove 37 and the sliding contact between the shaft 62 and the walls of the aperture 36 hold the anchorage loop sub assembly l O firmly in position. This is the condition shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the engagement of the shaft 62 and pin 63 with the locator plate 34 prevents pivoting of the anchorage loop sub assembly 10 so that if the passenger seat is subjected to a sideways load the anchorage device 11, 111 will resist pivotal movement under the load. The tendency to resist pivotal movement away from the use position may optionally be increased by the use of a top tether.

For release of the anchorage loop sub assembly 10 for stowage or folding of the seat back, each anchorage loop sub assembly l O is downwardly disposed to disengage the pin from its detent and then rotated 90 degrees to release the pin from the fixing plate assembly 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the anchorage loop sub assemblies 10 are arranged on their respective fixing plate assemblies 30, to form the base plate assemblies 21, 121 in the positions required for the particular vehicle. In use on the motor vehicle floor pan, the base plate assembly 21,121 may be inclined from the horizontal to align the axis of the shaft 62 in order to minimise bending and distortion loads exerted on the shaft during a crash. In the present example the shaft 62 is inclined forwardly of the motor vehicle at an optimum angle to the seat to minimise undue loading during crash conditions.

At least one tether loop 23 is provided on each base plate assembly 21, 121 for securing the top tether 5 of the child seat 2. The tether loop 23 is fixed to the respective base plate assembly 21, 121 at a location between a pair of fixing plate assemblies 30 for a respective Isofix child restraint system. s e - *

- - . * - .e

Claims

Claims 1. In a motor vehicle, an anchorage device for anchoring a child

restraint system onto a vehicle passenger seat, the anchorage device comprising: a base plate assembly securable to the vehicle floor pan using existing securing points for the respective vehicle seat, anchorage means in use disposed through a gap between the seat-cushion and the seat- back so that a child restraint system can be secured thereto and which are secured to the base plate assembly by a releasable coupling device, the coupling device allowing the anchorage means to be removed for stowage when the child restraint system is not in use. :-e
2. An anchorage device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a bayonet type coupling. . :
3. An anchorage device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the coupling comprises a cross- . :e pin on the anchorage means and a co-operating detent on the base plate assembly.
4. An anchorage device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the anchorage means when coupled to the base plate assembly is resiliently biased away from the base plate such that the resilient bias must be overcome before coupling and de-coupling of the anchorage means to or from the base plate assembly.
5. An anchorage device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the anchorage means comprise an anchor loop attached to one end of a shaft having the cross pin at its other end.
6. An anchorage device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the detent on the base plate comprises a fixing plate assembly having an elongate aperture therein through which the anchorage means and cross pin can pass, with a groove normal to the aperture on the rear face of the fixing plate assembly which can accommodate said cross pin.
7. An anchorage device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 and further comprising at least one fixed tether loop located on the base plate assembly for receipt of a restraint .. . attached to the child restraint system. . ..

1
S 8. An anchorage device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 and comprising up to three anchorage means spaced in a linear array across the base plate assembly. . :-. -
9. An anchorage device as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent upon Claim 7, wherein the tether loop is arranged between two adjacent fixing plate assemblies associated with a respective child restraint system.
10. A motor vehicle having at least one anchorage device according to any one of Claims 1 to 91ocated behind a passenger seat.
I l. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the anchorage device is inclined relative to the vehicle passenger seat to minimise loading on the anchorage means and detent during crash conditions.
12. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle rear passenger seats are either a fixed one piece or split in a 60:40 split and the motor vehicle is provided with two anchorage devices, one device having three spaced apart anchorage means in a linear array thereon and a second device having a single anchorage means thereon. ë e.- .- ee .: . :