Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY
Background of the Invention
This invention relates to vehicle seats and more particularly to integrated
seats for
motor vehicles capable of being moved between an adult position and a child
position.
Integrated seats which contemplate both a child and an adult position are to
be
contrasted with the practice in which the seats provided are adult seats, and
separate
child seat units are used to accommodate children. The usual situation is that
the
separate units each contain their own seat belt assemblies or occupant
restraints and
the separate child's unit is affixed to the existing adult seat by strapping
the separate
child unit to the adult seat by the adult seat belt assembly.
Integrated seats are typically provided with a movable cushion construction,
which is
movable between an adult position and a child position. In the adult position,
the
movable cushion construction is typically folded in such fashion that the
integrated
seat as a whole provides an adult seat and an adult seat back. In most
arrangements,
when in the adult position, the movable cushion construction forms part of the
adult
seat back, although in other arrangements the movable cushion construction
forms
part of the adult seat. In the child position, the movable cushion
construction is
unfolded and arranged to provide a cushioned child's seat in overlying
relation with
respect to the adult seat.
Integrated seats are also typically provided with both an adult seat belt
assembly and a
child seat belt assembly. When the integrated seat is in the adult position,
the child
seat belt assembly is typically folded into the adult seat back, together with
the
movable cushion construction. An advancement in integrated seats is disclosed
in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,756 ("the. '756 patent").
Heretofore, integrated seats have primarily been provided with two different
types of
child seat belt assembly tensioning arrangements. The first type utilizes a
tensioning
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adjuster in which a portion of the belt is grippingly retained between a cross
member
and a serrated surface, as disclosed in the aforementioned '756 patent. The
second
type incorporates a retractor assembly having a biased take-up reel, which is
normally
biased to take-up belt material until a desired tension in the belt is
attained. Each of
the aforementioned arrangements has its particular benefits and applications.
Heretofore, the biased take-up reels provided with child seat belt assemblies
have
been mounted on the lower portions of the seat frame assembly or on lower
portions
of the child's seat module. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,995 to Elton
("the '995
patent"), there is disclosed a vehicle seat assembly having an integrated
child seat
with a dual retractor assembly mounted on a bracket disposed at the bottom of
the
child's seat back panel, adjacent the vehicle floor pan.
Providing the retractor assemblies or take-up reels in such location requires
the two
shoulder belts of the child seat belt assembly to extend upwardly from the
reels and
over a fixed support bar before they extend forwardly of the child's seat back
and
downwardly over the child seat occupant's shoulders. This can be appreciated
from
the aforementioned '995 patent. It can also be appreciated that movement of
the belts
over the support bar may cause undesirable wearing of the belts. In addition,
friction
between the belts and the support bar makes it somewhat more difficult to
manually
pull the belts against the bias of the take-up reels to cause the reels to pay-
out to an
extent sufficient to harness a child seat occupant with the child seat belt
assembly. It
is desirable to provide take-up reels in such fashion that enables the belts
to pay-out
with sufficient ease and convenience when an individual is attempting to
establish
sufficient slack in the belts to harness and/or unharness a child seat
occupant.
Moreover, because the belts are looped over the support, unless they are
afforded with
some additional accommodation, such as vertically spaced slots in the child's
seat
back for receiving and guiding the belts as they extend forwardly of the
child's seat
back, the belts will extend forwardly and downwardly from the child's seat
back from
the same position (i.e., from over the fixed support bar), irrespective of the
size of the
child or the height of his or her shoulders.
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It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems noted above.
Summary of the Invention
To accomplish this object, the present invention provides a seat assembly
including an
integrated child seat assembly for a motor vehicle. The seat assembly includes
a seat
frame assembly for securement within the motor vehicle including a seat
cushion
frame and a seat back frame mounted with respect to the seat cushion frame in
an
operative fixed relation. A cushion assembly is mounted on the seat frame
assembly
and includes a movable cushion construction mounted for movement between (1)
an
adult position wherein the cushion assembly including the movable cushion
construction provides an adult seat cushion disposed in an operative position
with
respect to the seat frame assembly and a cushioned adult seat back for
engaging the
back of an adult sitting on the adult seat cushion, and (2) a child position
wherein the
cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction provides a child's
seat
disposed in a position above the operative position of the adult seat cushion
for
engaging a child sitting thereon, and a cushioned child's seat back extending
upwardly
from the cushioned child's seat for engaging the back of a child sitting on
the
cushioned child's seat. In addition, an adult seat belt assembly is mounted
with respect
to the seat assembly constructed and arranged to be disposed in restraining
relation
with respect to an adult sitting on the adult seat cushion with the movable
construction
in the adult position. A child's seat belt assembly is connected with the seat
frame
assembly constructed and arranged to be disposed in restraining relation with
respect
to a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the movable construction
in the
child position. The cushioned child's seat provides an anchor point
constructed and
arranged to enable the child's seat belt assembly to be releasably locked
between the
legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat so as to maintain the
child's seat
belt assembly in restraining relation with respect to a child sitting on the
cushioned
child's seat with the movable construction in the child position. The child's
seat belt
assembly includes a pair of belts, a connector structure, and a controlling
mechanism.
'The pair of belts each extend from respective take-up reels connected with an
upper
portion of the seat back frame forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back
for
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extension over the shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat
with the
movable cushion assembly in the child position. The connector structure is
associated
with the belts and is constructed and arranged to be releasably connected at
the anchor
point to enable the child's seat belt assembly to be releasably locked at the
anchor
point between the legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat. The
belts each
have upper portions thereof wound on the respective take-up reels in such a
fashion
that the belts pay-out generally from bottom portions of the reels when the
belts are
extended forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back over the shoulders of a
child
sitting on the cushioned child's seat and the connector structure is
releasably
connected at the anchor point so that the child's seat belt assembly is
releasably locked
at the anchor point between the legs of a child sitting on the cushioned
child's seat.
The belt assembly is manually releasable from between the legs of a child
sitting on
the cushioned child's seat by a single hand of an individual releasing the
connector
structure from the anchor point so as to enable the individual to lift the
belts off the
shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the same hand
by
moving the connector structure with the same hand over the head of the child.
The
belts pay-out generally from portions of the reels generally higher than the
bottom
portions when an individual lifts the belts off the shoulders of a child
sitting on the
cushioned child's seat by lifting the connector structure over the head of the
child. The
controlling mechanism is operatively connected with the take-up reels and is
constructed and arranged to control the pay-out and take-up of the belts by
the
respective reels.
It can be appreciated that the availability of space for accommodating take-up
reels at
the upper portion of the seat back frame is limited. It can also be
appreciated that
there always exists a need to reduce the number of parts associated with a
belt
assembly in order to reduce costs and make the assembly lighter in weight. It
is
therefore another object of the present invention to satisfy the need
expressed above
with an innovative arrangement which is simple in construction, compact and
relatively inexpensive. To accomplish this object, the present invention
provides a
seat assembly including an integrated child seat assembly for a motor vehicle.
The
seat assembly includes a seat frame assembly for securement within the motor
vehicle
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including a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame mounted with respect to
the seat
cushion frame in an operative fixed relation. A cushion assembly is mounted on
the
seat frame assembly and includes a movable cushion construction mounted for
movement between ( 1 ) an adult position wherein the cushion assembly
including the
movable cushion construction provides an adult seat cushion disposed in an
operative
position with respect to the seat frame assembly and a cushioned adult seat
back for
engaging the back of an adult sitting on the adult seat cushion, and (2) a
child position
wherein the cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction
provides a
child's seat disposed in a position above the operative position of the adult
seat
cushion for engaging a child sitting thereon, and a cushioned child's seat
back
extending upwardly from the cushioned child's seat for engaging the back of a
child
sitting on the cushioned child's seat. An adult seat belt assembly is mounted
with
respect to the seat assembly and is constructed and arranged to be disposed in
restraining relation with respect to an adult sitting on the adult seat
cushion with the
movable construction in the adult position. A child's seat belt assembly is
connected
with the seat frame assembly and is constructed and arranged to be disposed in
restraining relation with respect to a child sitting on the cushioned child's
seat with the
movable construction in the child position. The cushioned child's seat
provides an
anchor point for the child's seat belt assembly between the legs of a child
sitting on
the cushioned child's seat. The child's seat belt assembly includes a pair of
belts each
extending from respective take-up reels connected with an upper portion of the
seat
back frame forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back for extension over the
shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the movable
cushion
assembly in the child position. The belts each have upper portions thereof
wound on
the respective take-up reels in such a fashion that the belts pay-out
generally from
bottom portions of the reels when the belts are extended forwardly of the
cushioned
child's seat back. The child's seat belt assembly also includes a single
controlling
mechanism operatively connected with each of the take-up reels constructed and
arranged to control the pay-out and take-up of the belts by the respective
reels in such
a fashion that each belt is taken-up and paid-out simultaneously with and to
the same
extent as the other such that substantially the same length of each of the
belts will
extend from the respective reels at all times.
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It is a fi~rther object of the invention to provide the advantages noted above
in a child's
seat module which is adapted to be mounted on a seat back frame of a vehicle
seat
having a seat cushion and spaced apart side cushions on the seat back frame
defining .
a child-receiving space therebetween. The child seat module comprises a rigid
back
panel of a size to fit within the space between the side cushions constructed
and
arranged to engage the seat back frame forwardly thereof within a rearward
portion of
the space between the side cushions for fixed securement thereto. A cushion
assembly
is mounted on the back panel and includes upper and lower movable cushion
constructions mounted for movement between (1) an adult position wherein the
movable cushion constructions are disposed within the space between the side
cushions and provide a cushioned adult seat back for engaging the back of an
adult
sitting on the seat cushion, and (2) a child position wherein the movable
cushion
constructions extend from the space between the side cushions and the cushion
assembly provides a cushioned child's seat including the lower movable cushion
assembly extending from the bottom of the space in overlying relation to the
seat
cushion, a cushioned child's seat back extending upwardly from the cushioned
child's
seat within the space between the side cushions, and a cushioned child's head
support
including the upper movable cushion assembly above the cushioned child's seat
back.
A child's seat belt assembly is connected with the back panel and is
constructed and
arranged to be disposed in restraining relation with respect to a child
sitting on the
cushioned child's seat with the movable cushion constructions in the child
position.
The lower movable cushion construction provides an anchor point for the
child's seat
belt assembly between the legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's
seat. The
child's seat belt assembly includes a pair of belts and a single controlling
mechanism.
The pair of belts each extend from respective take-up reels connected with an
upper
portion of the back panel forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back for
extension
over the shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the
movable
cushion assembly in the child position. The belts each have upper portions
thereof
wound on the respective take-up reels in such a fashion that the belts pay-out
generally from bottom portions of the reels when the belts are extended
forwardly of
the cushioned child's seat back. The single controlling mechanism is
operatively
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connected with each of the take-up reels and is constructed and arranged to
control the
pay-out and take-up of the belts by the respective reels in such a fashion
that each belt
is taken-up and paid-out simultaneously with and to the same extent as the
other such
that substantially the same length of each of the belts will extend from the
respective
reels at all times.
Where integrated child seat assemblies provide spring biased take-up reels
which pay-
out a pair of shoulder belts for extension over the shoulders of a child's
seat occupant
and for connection with an anchor point between the legs of the child's seat
occupant,
the mere presence and position of the belts often interferes with the ingress
and/or
egress of the child to and from the child's seat. In many arrangements it is
necessary
for an adult to utilize one hand to maintain the belts in a position that will
riot interfere
with the aforesaid ingress and/or egress, while utilizing the other hand to
help the
child into or out of the child seat. This is somewhat of an awkward and
cumbersome
procedure. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat
assembly which overcomes the problems noted above. In accomplishing this
object,
the present invention provides a seat assembly including an integrated child
seat
assembly for a motor vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat frame
assembly for
securement within the motor vehicle including a seat cushion frame and a seat
back
frame mounted with respect to the seat cushion frame in an operative fixed
relation. A
cushion assembly is mounted on the seat frame assembly and includes a movable
cushion construction mounted for movement between (1) an adult position
wherein
the cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction provides an
adult
seat cushion disposed in an operative position with respect to the seat frame
assembly
and a cushioned adult seat back for engaging the back of an adult sitting on
the adult
seat cushion, and (2) a child position wherein the cushion assembly including
the
movable cushion construction provides a child's seat disposed in a position
above the
operative position of the adult seat cushion for engaging a child sitting
thereon, and a
cushioned child's seat back extending upwardly from the cushioned child's seat
for
engaging the back of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat. The
cushion
assembly further includes a cushioned headrest mounted with respect to the
seat frame
assembly for engaging (1) the back of the head of an adult sitting on the
adult seat
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cushion when the movable cushion construction is in the adult position, and
(2) the
back of the head of a large child sitting on the movable cushion construction
when the
movable cushion construction is in the child position. An adult seat belt
assembly is
mounted with respect to the seat assembly constructed and arranged to be
disposed in
restraining relation with respect to an adult sitting on the adult seat
cushion with the
movable construction in the adult position. A child's seat belt assembly is
connected
with the seat frame assembly constructed and arranged to be disposed in
restraining
relation with respect to a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with
the movable
construction in the child position. The cushioned child's seat provides an
anchor point
constructed and arranged to enable the child's seat belt assembly to be
releasably
locked between the legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat so as
to
maintain the child's seat belt assembly in restraining relation with respect
to a child
sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the movable construction in the
child
position. The child's seat belt assembly includes a pair of belts each
extending from
respective take-up reels forwardly of the cushioned child's seat back for
extension
over the shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat with the
movable
cushion assembly in the child position. A connector structure is associated
with the
belts and constructed and arranged to be releasably connected at the anchor
point to
enable the child's seat belt assembly to be releasably locked at the anchor
point
between the legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat. A spring
assembly is
operatively connected with the take-up reels and constructed and disposed to
bias the
take-up reels with a predetermined biasing force to take-up the belts and
provide
slight tensioning of the belts over the shoulders of a child when the
connector
structure is releasably locked at the anchor point between the legs of a child
sitting on
the cushioned child's seat. The belt assembly is manually releasable from
between the
legs of a child sitting on the cushioned child's seat by a single hand of an
individual
releasing the connector structure from the anchor point so as to enable the
individual
to lift the belts off the shoulders of a child sitting on the cushioned
child's seat with
the same hand by moving the connector structure with the same hand over the
head of
the child, the connector structure being further movable to effectuate
movement of the
belts against the bias of the take-up reels to effectuate pay-out of the belts
from the
reels so as to create sufficient slack in the belts to enable the connector
structure to be
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positioned behind the headrest. Positioning of the connector structure behind
the
headrest provides sufficient resistance against the predetermined biasing
force of the
spring assembly to prevent the take-up reels from taking up the belts to any
significant
extent that would cause the connector structure to return forwardly over the
headrest
without manual assistance.
Integrated child seats have been known to be provided in bench-type seats,
typically
having a low back, such as those provided in a van and which accommodate two
or
more individuals sitting in side-by-side relation. Because support for the
back of the
head of a child in a vehicle is desirable, integrated child seat assemblies
provided in
bench-type seats have been equipped with head rests that are deployed to
engage the
head of a large and/or small child when the integrated child seat is deployed.
It can be
appreciated that the back of the head of a small child (e.g., in the range of
approximately 20 pounds) may simply engage the cushioned child's seat back,
which
provides adequate support. In these arrangements, however, the bench-type
seats have
not been provided with an adult head rest, which extends above the adult seat
back for
engagement with the back of the head of an adult seat occupant. The omission
of an
adult head rest in a bench-type seat having an integrated child seat is due,
in part, to
the limited space for providing such a head rest, especially in light of the
space
required to accommodate a head rest cooperable with the integrated child seat
for
supporting the back of the head of a large child. There is therefore a need to
provide a
bench-type seat, which includes an integrated child seat, and which provides a
head
rest that can be used by both an adult sitting on the bench seat when the
integrated
child seat is not deployed, and also by a large child occupying the deployed
integrated
child seat. To satisfy this need, the present invention provides a bench seat
assembly
including a pair of integrated child seat assemblies for a motor vehicle
comprising a
seat frame assembly for securement within the motor vehicle including a seat
cushion
frame and a seat back frame mounted with respect to the seat cushion frame in
an
operative fixed relation. A cushion assembly accommodates at least two seat
occupants sitting in side-by-side relation thereon. The cushion assembly
includes a
pair of side-by-side movable cushion constructions mounted on the seat frame
assembly, each of the movable cushion constructions being mounted for movement
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between (1) an adult position wherein the cushion assembly including the
movable
cushion construction provides an adult seat cushion disposed in an operative
position
with respect to the seat frame assembly and a cushioned adult seat back for
engaging
the back of an adult sitting on the adult seat cushion, and (2) a child
position wherein
the cushion assembly including the movable cushion construction provides a
cushioned child's seat disposed in a position above the operative position of
the adult
seat cushion for engaging a child sitting thereon, and a cushioned child's
seat back
extending upwardly from the cushioned child's seat for engaging the back of a
child
sitting on the cushioned child's seat. The cushion assembly further includes a
pair of
cushioned headrests mounted on the seat frame assembly for extension above the
cushioned adult seat back, each of the headrests being positioned in operative
relation
with respect to an associated one of the movable cushion constructions. Each
headrest
and associated movable cushion construction are constructed and arranged such
that
(1) the headrest engages the back of the head of an adult sitting on the adult
seat
cushion when the associated movable cushion construction is in the adult
position, (2)
the headrest engages the back of the head of a large child sitting on the
associated
movable cushion construction when the associated movable cushion construction
is in
the child position, and (3) the cushioned child's seat back engages the back
of the head
of a small child sitting on the associated movable cushion construction when
the
associated movable cushion construction is in the child position. A pair of
child's seat
belt assemblies are connected with the seat frame assembly and are associated
with
one of the movable cushion constructions. Each child's seat belt assembly is
constructed and arranged to be releasably locked in restraining relation with
respect to
a child sitting on the associated cushioned child's seat provided by the
associated
movable construction in the child position. Each child's seat belt assembly
includes a
pair of belts each extending forwardly of the associated cushioned child's
seat back
for extension over the shoulders of a child sitting on the associated
cushioned child's
seat with the associated movable cushion assembly in the child position, and
is
anchored at an anchor point between the legs of the child sitting on the
associated
movable cushion assembly in the child position.
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These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent
during
the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the seat assembly in accordance with the
principles of the present invention, with the right side of the figure showing
the seat
assembly in the child position and the left side of the figure showing the
seat
assembly in the adult position;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view, with certain elements omitted to better
reveal others,
showing an integrated child's seat module mounted on a vehicle seat back frame
in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an integrated child's seat back
panel
and a portion of the child's seat belt assembly in accordance with the
principles of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the connection of the
controlling
mechanism and take-up reels of the child's seat belt assembly with the back
panel in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a front plan view, with certain parts removed to better reveal
others, of the
take-up reels and controlling mechanism in accordance with the principles of
the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 5, showing
the
controlling mechanism in an unlocked condition in accordance with the
principles of
the present invention;
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FIG. 7 a side-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 5, showing the
controlling mechanism in an unlocked condition in accordance with the
principles of
the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a side-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the controlling
mechanism in a locked condition in accordance with the principles of the
present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a side-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the controlling
mechanism in a locked condition in accordance with the principles of the
present
invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the seat assembly in the child position
with the
child's seat belt assembly in restraining relation with respect to a child's
seat occupant;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the child's seat
belt
assembly being moved out of restraining relation with respect to a child's
seat
occupant.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
In FIG. 1, there is shown a seat assembly 10, which is in the form of a bench
seat, and
includes a pair of integrated child seat assemblies, each preferably in the
form of a
module 12, suitable to be installed into the seat assembly as a unit. The seat
assembly
10 is shown in the child position in the right-hand side of FIG. 1., and in
the adult
position in the left-hand side of FIG. 1.
The seat assembly 10 includes a pair of spaced risers 14 for mounting the seat
assembly 10 on the floor 17 of a motor vehicle. The seat assembly 10
incorporates a
seat frame assembly, including a seat cushion frame assembly 16, and seat back
frame
assembly 20, which are shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. The seat cushion frame
assembly 16 has a tubular rectangular peripheral frame structure, and carries
a
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covered seat cushion 18 of conventional construction. As shown, the width of
the seat
cushion 18 is sufficient to enable two adult seat occupants to sit thereon in
side-by-
side operative positions. It is understood, however, that many of the
principles of the
present invention also apply to a single Seat assembly adapted to accommodate
only
one person, and also to seat assemblies that can accommodate more than two
people.
The seat back frame assembly 20 includes a main inverted U-shaped tubular
frame
member 21 positioned so that the lower free ends of the leg portions thereof
are
rigidly fixed to the rearward sides of the main seat frame assembly 16 and so
that the
central bight portion extends along the upper extent of the seat back. An
upper rail
portion 23 extends along the central bight portion and is rigidly secured with
respect
thereto, preferably by welding or by being bolted, and facilitates securement
of the
child's seat module and seat belt assembly of the present invention to the
seat back
frame as will be more fully described in conjunction with FIG. 2. Typically, a
lower
tubular horizontal frame member (not shown in FIG. 1 ) may also form part of
the seat
back frame assembly 20 and would be welded or otherwise fixed between the
lower
leg portions of the main U-shaped frame member 21 shown. Furthermore, the rail
member 23 may be provided throughout the extent of the main U-shaped frame
member to provide added rigidity of the frame assembly 21, if desired.
A cushion assembly, generally indicated at 22, includes the aforementioned
adult seat
cushion 18 mounted on seat frame assembly 16, and a cushioned adult seat back
24.
The adult seat back 24 includes the seat back frame assembly 20 on which is
mounted
the outer and central side cushions 26; 28 and cushioning 30 disposed
therebetween
provided by a movable cushion construction, generally indicated at 32. The
movable
cushion construction 32 is movable between an adult position and a child
position. In
the adult position, the movable cushion construction 32 is disposed within a
space 34
between the side cushions 26 and 28 and provides the cushioning 30 vertically
for
engagement by the center of the back of an adult seat occupant sitting on the
seat
cushion 18, as shown in the left hand operative position in FIG. 1. In the
child's
position, the movable cushion construction 32 extends from the bottom of the
space
34 in overlying supported relation to the seat cushion 18 so as to provide a
cushioned
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child's seat, as shown in the right-hand operative position in FIG. 1. The
cushioned
child's seat includes a removable cushioned pad 40, having a seat portion 42
and a
back portion 44.
A pair of manually movable headrests 43 are mounted on and extend upwardly
from
the cushioned adult seat back 24. In the Figures, only the upper cushioned
portion of
the headrests 43 are shown. It can be appreciated, however, that the upper
cushioned
portions of the headrests are rigidly mounted on the central bight portion of
an
inverted U-shaped metallic member. The downwardly extending legs of the U-
shaped
member have a circular cross section and are received in slots provided in
upper
portions of the cushioned adult seat back 24. The legs have vertically spaced
grooves
or notches that cooperatively receive spring biased detentes associated with
the slots
in the upper portions of the adult seat back 24. The detentes ride along the
legs of the
U-shaped member as the height of headrest is manually adjusted and are
received
within the notches to enable the headrests to be selectively maintained at
desired
vertical positions above the cushioned adult seat back 24. It is preferred for
the lower
ends of the legs to be slightly flared or otherwise accommodated to prevent
the
headrest 43 from being completely removed from the cushioned adult seat back
24.
Each of the headrests 43 are positioned in operative relation with respect to
an
associated one of the movable cushion constructions 32. With the movable
cushion
construction 32 in the adult position, the associated headrest 43 can engage
the back
of the head of an adult sitting on the seat assembly 22. The vertical position
of the
headrests 43 can be manually adjusted to accommodate the particular size of
the adult.
When the movable cushion construction 32 in the child position, the associated
headrest 43 is arranged to engaged the back of the head of a large child
(e.g.,
approximately 60 pounds) sitting on movable cushion construction 32. In this
instance, the headrest 43 is optimally disposed in its lowermost position.
When a
small child (e.g., approximately 20 pounds) is sitting on the movable cushion
construction 32 in the child position, the cushioned child's seat back 44
engages the
back of the head of the small child. In this instance, the position of the
headrest 43 is
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of little consequence, since, even in its lowermost position, it is disposed
out of the
range of possible engagement with the back of the head of the small child.
Because the headrests 43 are adapted to accommodate both the back of the head
of an
adult and a large child, they are disposed at a position, fore and aft, which
is a
compromise between the ideal position for accommodating the head of an adult
sitting
on the adult seat cushion when the associated movable cushion construction is
in the
adult position, and the ideal position for accommodating the head of a large
child
sitting on the associated movable cushion construction when the associated
movable
cushion construction is in the child position.
The movable cushion construction 32 preferably includes a main bolster portion
46
and a detachable peripheral second bolster portion 48, as shown. With the
movable
cushion construction 32 in the adult position, the forwardly facing surfaces
of the
main and second bolster portions 46 and 48 provide the cushioning 30, and the
bolster
portions 46 and 48 fill the entire space 34 between the side cushions 26 and
28 and
extend substantially along the entire extent of the adult seat back 24. It is
preferred
that the seat portion 42 of the cushioned pad 40 cover only the main bolster
portion 46
of the movable cushion construction 32 to enable the peripheral bolster
portion 48 to
be detached without any excess of the padded seat portion 42 extending onto
the adult
seat cushion 18. Preferably, the connection between the two bolster portions
46 and
48 is in the form of a zipper arrangement. A more detailed disclosure of the
detachable connection between main bolster portion 46 and peripheral second
bolster
portion 48 of the movable cushion construction 32 is disclosed in U.S. Patent
No.
5,472,260 and WO 93/22954. A fuller appreciation for another possible
construction
contemplated for main bolster portion 46 can also be gathered from the
aforementioned patent application.
The seat assembly 10 also includes an adult seat belt assembly, the buckle
portion of
which is generally indicated at 50. The adult seat belt assembly can be of any
type,
and is provided to restrain an adult sitting on the seat assembly in the adult
position.
The child's seat belt assembly of the present invention, generally indicated
at 60, is
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connected with the seat frame assembly (e.g., with seat back frame assembly
20). The
child's seat belt assembly 60 includes a pair of shoulder belts 62, each
extending from
respective take-up reels 64 (see FIG. 2) connected with the upper portion of
seat back
frame assembly 20. The shoulder belts 62 extend forwardly of the cushioned
child's
seat back 44 for extension over the shoulders of a child sitting on the
cushioned
child's seat 42 with the movable cushion construction 32 in the child
position. A
connector structure 70 is provided to latch the shoulder belts 62 in
restraining relation
with respect to a child's seat occupant. The connector structure 70 includes a
main
shield portion 74, preferably made from a rigid moldable plastic material,
that
slidingly receives the shoulder belts 62 through slots 72 provided therein.
The
connector structure also includes a latch or buckle mechanism 76 provided at a
lower
portion thereof for releasable connection with a connecting member in the form
of a
metal connecting tongue or clip 78 provided with the main bolster portion 46
of the
cushioned child's seat. The connecting clip 78 provides an anchor point which
enables
the child's seat belt assembly 60 to be releasably locked between the legs of
a child
sitting on the cushioned child's seat. The latch mechanism 76 can be released
from the
connecting clip 78 by depressing an unlocking button 77 provided on the latch
mechanism 76.
FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the child seat module 12 of the
present
invention. As shown, the peripheral bolster portion 48 of the movable cushion
construction 32 has been removed. It can also be appreciated that the child
seat
module 12, which is to be mounted on the seat back frame assembly 20 between
the
side cushions 26 and 28, includes a rigid structure, which in the broader
aspects of the
present invention, may be regarded as part of the seat back frame. The rigid
structure
is in the form of a back panel 80 of rigid material, as, for example, a
suitable moldable
plastic material. This same moldable material can be used for a horizontal
support
member 82, which is disposed in overlying horizontal relation on the
cushioning 30
when the movable cushion construction 32 is in the child position. Preferably,
the
removable cushioned pad 40 is adhered to the back panel 80 and support member
82
by use of VELCRO fastener material in the manner described in the aforesaid
'728
and '610 applications.
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The metal connecting clip 78 is spring biased by a spring assembly 90 into a
rearward
inoperative position, as indicated by the solid line position of clip 78 in
FIG. 2. The
connecting clip 78 has a vertically extending portion 92 extending upwardly
through
an opening 93 in the rigid support 82, adjacent a downwardly sloping edge 94
of the
support 82.
To lock the child's seat belt assembly 60, an individual grasps the shield
portion 74 or
latch mechanism 76 of connector structure 70 and latches the latch mechanism
76
onto clip 78 by forcing the latch mechanism 76 onto the vertical portion 92 of
the clip
78. Latch mechanism 76 is provided with a slot 95 for receiving clip 78 in
conventional fashion. It can be appreciated that when clip 78 is in its biased
inoperative rearward position, the distance between the vertical portion 92 of
clip 78
and the sloping edge 94 of the rigid support surface 82 is less than the
thickness "T"
between the aforementioned receiving slot 95 and the outer housing of latching
mechanism 76 as can be appreciated from FIG. 2. Thus, movement of the latching
mechanism 76 into latching engagement with clip 78 causes a leading sloping
surface
97 of latching mechanism 76 to contact the upper edge 99 of clip 78. Continued
downward forced movement of the mechanism 76 onto the clip 78 causes the
thickness "T" thereof to be wedged between the vertical portion 92 of clip 78
and
sloping edge 94 until the clip 78 moves forwardly into the dashed-line
operative
position, generally indicated at 96, against the bias of spring assembly 90.
The rearward portion of clip 78 is connected with one end of a cable member
100.
The cable member 100 extends rearwardly from the clip 78 through a flexible
sheath
or tube 101, one end of which is fixed beneath rigid support 82. The cable
member
100 and surrounding flexible tube 101, which constitute a Bowdine wire
assembly
extend upwardly behind the back panel 80 for connection with a controlling
mechanism, generally indicated at 110 in a manner hereinafter to be more fully
described. When the latch mechanism 76 is latched onto clip 78 so that clip 78
is
moved to the operative position, the cable member 100 causes controlling
mechanism
110 to lock reels 64 against paying-out belts 62. In this fashion, when a
child occupies
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the child's seat in the child position, and the locking mechanism 76 is
latched onto clip
78, the belts 62 will not permit the child to move forwardly to any
significant extent.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views showing certain portions of the child seat
module
12 of the present invention. More specifically, the back panel 80 is shown,
together
with reels 64 and controlling mechanism 110 carried by a metallic mounting
frame
assembly 130. In FIG. 4 it can be appreciated that the controlling mechanism
110 is
protected by a forward shield housing 113, which may be formed as part of the
frame
assembly 130. The back panel 80 is secured to mounting frame assembly 130 via
fasteners 114. More specifically, mounting frame 130 is positioned so that an
upper
frame portion 131 thereof is disposed beneath a rearwardly extending flange
portion
132 of the back panel 80, and appropriate fasteners 114 are extended through
openings 115 through the flange portion 132 and then through aligned openings
118
in the upper frame portion 131 to make the-securement. Referring back to FIG.
2, it
can be appreciated that fasteners 114 are also used to secure back panel 80
and
mounting frame assembly 130 to the seat back frame 20. More specifically,
upper rail
portion 23 has a forwardly extending flange portion 119 having openings
therethrough (not shown) that are aligned with openings 115 and 118 and which
receive lower portions of the fasteners 114 therethrough. Preferably, the
upper frame
portion 131 of mounting assembly 130 is slid up on top of the forwardly
extending
flange portion 119 so that the seat back frame assembly 20 supports both the
mounting assembly 130 and back panel 80 without reliance solely on the
fasteners
114. It can be appreciated, however, that the upper frame portion 131 and
flange 132
can be mounted and secured beneath the flange portion 119 if desired. In any
event,
the take-up reels 64 are rigidly connected with an upper portion of the back
panel 80
and the seat back frame assembly 20.
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be appreciated that reels 64 may be
considered
to include a common spindle or spool assembly 120. In the broader aspects of
the
invention, however, the reels 64 can be considered to be formed only by the
belt
material itself which is wound or coiled on the spool assembly 120. The ends
of the
belt material within reels 64 are fixed to the spool 120 in any conventional
manner.
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The spool assembly 120 extends through side openings 104 in frame assembly 130
so
as to be rotatably carried by the mounting frame 130 and operatively connected
with
the controlling mechanism 110. Spool 120 is rotatable in opposite directions
about its
own axis to effectuate pay-out and take-up of belts 62 to and from reels 64.
The
controlling mechanism 110 is constructed to selectively permit and prevent
rotation of
spool 120 to control pay-out and take-up of the belts 62 by the reels 64.
Unlike a
conventional belt retraction assembly in which one controlling mechanism is
used for
each reel, and in which each reel is rotatable about its own spool, the
present
invention enables a single controlling mechanism to be used to control two
reels, as
the two reels share the same spool. As a result, each belt is taken-up and
paid-out
simultaneously with and to the same extent as the other so that substantially
the same
length of each belt will extend from the respective reels at all times. This
prevents
uneven distribution of the belts, and reduces the cost and size of the
components
required in the assembly. The reduced size enables the reels and controlling
mechanism to be easily mounted on the upper portion of the seat back frame.
In FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that each reel 64 consists of belt material
wound upon
itself about spool assembly 120. While the reels may be encased in housings
having
slots through which the belts 62 may extend, it is preferred that such
housings be
omitted. It has been found that contact between the belts and the edges
defining the
aforementioned slots may impose unwanted friction on the belts and interfere
with
pay-out and take-up of the belts.
The upper portion and rearwardly extending flange portion 132 of back panel 80
are
provided with spaced openings 134, which permit the belts 62 to extend
forwardly of
the back panel 80 therethrough. The edges defining the spaced openings 134
guide the
belts 62 as they are unwound from, and wound on spool assembly 120. The bottom
portion of the back panel 80 is provided with holes 136 for securement to the
lower
portions of the seat back frame 20. In addition, spaced openings 138 are
formed at
opposite lower sides of back panel 80 for receiving appropriate fasteners 139.
The
fasteners 139 are used to mount the back panel on the opposite rearward sides
of the
movable cushion construction 32 and to connect the lower ends of the belt 62
with
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said opposite rearward sides as shown in FIG. 2. It can be appreciated that
fasteners
139 serve as an anchor for the lower ends of belts 62 and also as a pivot
point for the
movable cushion construction 32.
FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the child's seat
belt assembly of
the present invention. In FIG. 5, certain elements (such as the front plate of
shield
housing 113) are omitted to better reveal others. The shield housing 113 has
opposite
side walls 150 having openings 152 therethrough for receiving spool assembly
120.
Disposed about the spool assembly 120 within the shield housing 113 is a
ratchet
assembly 156, which includes a metallic ratchet member 158 rigidly mounted on
a
plastic bearing member 160. The bearing member 160 rotates with spool assembly
120 and has a peripheral annular groove provided in a portion 162 thereof. The
peripheral groove provided within portion 162 is adapted to receive the inner
edges
defining one of the openings 152 in the side walls 150 of the shield housing
113.
Preferably, bearing 160 is formed from a plastic material.
As also shown in FIG. 5, the controlling mechanism further includes a pawl
member
164, which is in the form of a metallic plate having opposite pin portions 166
extending from opposite sides thereof through respective openings 167 in the
opposite
parallel sides 150 of the shield housing 113. The pin portions 166 extend
through the
respective openings in such fashion as to permit the pawl member 164 to pivot
about
an axis generally defined by the pin portions 166. The controlling mechanism
fizrther
includes a leaf spring 170 for biasing the pawl member 164 in a pivotal
direction
towards the ratchet member 158. In FIG. 5, however, the pawl is kept out of
engagement with ratchet member 158 via the engagement of pawl member 164 with
a
lever arm 174 mounted on a rotatable plastic wheel 176. The metal pawl member
164
has a plastic engagement member 196 fixed thereto and provided to contact the
arm
174. The wheel 176 is rotatably mounted on a bearing 178, which is fixed to
the spool
assembly 120. This arrangement enables the wheel 176 to be rotatable
independently
of the spool 120. This is unlike the arrangement of ratchet member 158 and
bearing
160, wherein ratchet 158 is fixedly mounted with respect to bearing 160, and
bearing
160 is fixedly mounted with respect to spool assembly 120 so that rotation of
ratchet
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158 can occur only with rotation of the spool assembly 120. Spool assembly 120
is
normally biased in a rotational direction that will cause reels to take-up
slack in belts
62 from a generally bottom portion of reels 64. Such biasing of the spool
assembly is
accomplished with a conventional spring assembly, generally indicated at 200,
which
is connected at one side of the mounting frame assembly 130.
FIG. 6 is a view taken through the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, and shows the pawl
member 164
retained in its unlocked position relative to ratchet member 158 against the
biasing
force of leaf spring 170 by the stopping action of lever arm 174. This can be
more
fully appreciated from FIG. 7, which is a sectional view taken through the
line 7--7 in
FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows the pawl member 164 out of engagement with teeth 180
provided along the outer periphery of ratchet member 158.
Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be appreciated that lever arm 174
extends
radially outwardly from an annular core portion 185 of wheel 176. It can also
be seen
that wheel 176 further has a plate-like radially extending flange portion 184
that
partially surrounds the core portion 185, and a spring receiving portion 188
formed on
the flange portion 184. The wheel also has a hook portion 186 radially
extending from
the core portion 185. Preferably, the wheel 176 is integrally formed from a
molded
plastic material.
FIG. 6 shows the lever arm 174 in its furthest counter-clockwise position, as
limited
by action of the cable 100 and the rearwardmost position that can be assumed
by
connector 78 in its inoperative position. FIG. 6 also shows the connection of
the
Bowdine wire assembly to the controlling mechanism 110. As shown, the adjacent
end of the flexible tube 101 is fixed to the frame assembly 130. The adjacent
end of
the cable member 100 is looped around and fixed to the hook portion 186. When
connector 78 is moved to its operative position 96, cable 100 will be
tensioned to
cause clockwise movement of wheel 176 in FIG. 6 against the force of a coil
spring
190 connected between the spring receiving portion 188 and a connecting
portion 194
of shield housing 113. This can be clearly seen in FIG. 8. As can also be
appreciated
from FIG. 8, movement of the wheel in such fashion causes lever arm 174 to
come
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out of engagement with the plastic engagement member 196 of pawl member 164 to
permit pivotal movement of pawl member 164 about pin members 166. The biasing
force of leaf spring 170 forces such pivotal movement of pawl 164 until it
engages
one of the ratchet teeth 180, as shown in FIG. 9. Once pawl member 164 engages
one
of the teeth 180, spool 120 cannot be rotated in the clockwise direction in
FIG. 9, and
the reels 64 are thus prevented from paying-out belts 62.
In FIG. 9, the bias of spool 120 via spring assembly 200 (e.g., see, FIG. 5)
may move
the ratchet member 158 in a counter clockwise direction when an excess amount
of
slack remains in the belts 62, even after the child's seat belt assembly is
locked
between the legs of a child seat occupant. The pawl member 164 will then
engage the
next tooth within teeth 180 to retain the belts 162 slightly tensioned over
the shoulders
of the child seat occupant at all times. It can be appreciated that the degree
of
tensioning can be controlled to some extent by the spacing between teeth 180
and by
the degree of biasing force provided by spring assembly 200.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the child seat belt assembly in an
operative
position, extending over the shoulders of a child seat occupant and locked at
the
anchor point between the legs of the occupant. Because shoulder belt 62 are
wound or
Coiled in a clockwise direction, in FIG. 10, around spool assembly 120, the
shoulder
belts 62 pay-out generally from the bottom portion of reels 64. In FIG. 11,
the child
seat belt assembly is shown in its inoperative position by being manually
released
from between the legs of the child by a single hand of an individual. This can
easily
be accomplished by the individual using the thumb to depress the unlocking
button 77
on latch mechanism 76 and lifting the belts off the shoulders of the child
with the
same hand by moving the connector structure 70 over the head of the child. It
can be
appreciated from FIG. 11 that the belts 62 pay-out from portions of the reels
64
generally higher than the aforesaid bottom portions (e.g., compare the arrows
in FIGS.
10 and 11) when an individual lifts the belts off the shoulders of the child
by lifting
the connector structure over the head of the child.
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In FIG. 11, the individual lifting the connector structure 70 can simply
release the
connector structure so that the belts 62 rest upon headrest 43 and so that the
connector
structure rests or hangs behind headrest 43. The biasing force provide by the
spring
assembly 200 and the weight of the connector structure 70 are judiciously
chosen
such that the weight of the connector structure 70 behind headrest 43,
together with
the resistance provided by the belts 62 lapping over the headrest, will
provide
sufficient resistance to the biasing force of spring assembly 200 to prevent
the spring
assembly 200 from taking-up belts 62. This leaves both hands of the individual
free to
remove the child seat occupant from the child's seat.
Because the belts 62 are wound on reels 64 such that they pay-out from bottom
portions of the reels, less friction is imposed on the belts 62 as they are
lifted into the
position shown in FIG. 11. More specifically, if the belts 62 were to pay-out
from
upper portions of the reels 64 (e.g, by being wound in a counter-clockwise
direction
on spool assembly 120, as opposed to the clockwise direction shown in FIGS. 10
and
11 ), there would be more interference from other portions of the seat
assembly 10
(e.g., upper portions within adult seat back 24) as shoulder belts 62 pay-out
from reels
64.
Also, because belts 62 pay-out from bottom portions of the reels as aforesaid,
the belts
naturally tend to pay-out from relatively higher positions with respect to the
reels as
belt material is depleted from the reels 64. Because relatively less belt
material is
required in harnessing a small child in comparison with a large child sitting
on the
movable cushion construction 32, the reels 64 retain more belt material when a
small
child is harnessed by the belt assembly 60. With more material retained on the
reels
64, the belts 62 will extend from a relatively low position from reels 64. In
contrast,
when a large child occupies the child's seat, more belt material is required
and reels 64
are somewhat more depleted so that they pay-out from a relatively higher
position.
This arrangement provides a slight adjustment of the position at which the
belts 62 are
paid-out in order to comfortably accommodate children of different sizes.
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It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and
effectively
accomplished. It will be understood, however, that the foregoing preferred
specific
embodiment has been shown and described for the purpose of this invention and
is
subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this
invention
includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following
claims.
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