Child's car seat with means for temporarily bypassing the seatbelt strap.

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is that of childcare.

More specifically, the invention relates to infant car seats, intended to be installed on a seat of a motor vehicle, and to be held by the webbing of a seat belt of the latter.

The invention can be applied to different types of car seats, appropriate to the age and weight of the children (including the headquarters of the groups 0, 1, 2 and 3 and their combinations).

the term subsequently be used "shell" or the term "car seat" for a child seat according to the invention, intended to ensure the safety of a child in a vehicle.

2. Solutions of the prior art

very many types of car seats are known. According to a conventional technique, the car seat can be maintained on a seat or a seat of a motor vehicle with the strap of the seat belt of the latter.

Two modes of installation of the car seat are possible, namely a first mode in which the car seat is installed facing the road and a second mode in which the car seat is installed rearward facing.

In some cases, especially when the car seat is installed rearward facing, the strap of the seat belt can be driven on or above an upper portion of the car seat to keep the car seat on the seat or the vehicle seat.

3. Disadvantages of the prior art

One of the major disadvantages of this method of guiding the strap is that it can interfere with the child's installation in the car seat, and in the same way the removal of the child or his readjustment in the car seat .

An example of an automobile seat according to the preamble of claim is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0823349B1"><text>EP0823349b1</text></patcit>.

The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> schematically illustrates this situation, a shell 2 plastic that is installed rear-facing on the seat or the seat 4 of a vehicle. The shell 2 comprises a backrest 3 and a seat (not visible). receiving and guiding means 6 (a bracket for example) of a strap 1 of conventional seat belt (multi-point) are arranged on the upper part of the backrest 3 to maintain the shell 2 attached to the vehicle.

It appears prominently on the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> the pectoral part of the strap 1 preclude a user who wishes to install a child in the shell 2 (or alternatively that would remove the child car seat or adjust the child's position in the car seat). In some cases, users prefer to unlock the seat belt before installing the child in the shell 2, but this is not desirable in terms of safety as ergonomics.

Furthermore, another path is not desirable for the strap. Indeed, this implementation provides the best safety in case of impact or sudden movement of the vehicle.

4. Objectives of the invention

The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

Specifically, an object of the invention is to make easy installation and removal of a child in a car seat, without affecting the safety of the child.

The invention also aims to ensure proper maintenance of the car seat on the seat or the seat of a vehicle, when it moves.

5. Summary of the Invention

The invention proposes a novel solution according to claims 1 to 9 which does not have all of these drawbacks of the prior art, as a child car seat, comprising means for receiving and guiding of a seat belt webbing of a motor vehicle.

Thus, the invention facilitates the installation of a child in a car seat which is held on the seat of a motor vehicle by the strap of a safety belt. To do this, the path of the strap relative to the seat is changed, so as to temporarily dismiss the strap of the hull during installation or removal of the child. Thus, the separated strap follows for example, substantially the shape of the hull. In other words, the path followed by the strap between the strap winder and the back shell is not a straight line segment, but instead defines an angle. In this way, installation of a child in the shell is facilitated.

The release position enables quick and simple return to the travel state, that is to say, effectively keeping the car seat by the strap on the seat or the seat when the child is installed and attached.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, when said strap is released from said shunt means, it takes, automatically, a position maintaining said shell, cooperating with said means for receiving and guiding the strap to the shell.

This ensures, without manipulation, proper maintenance and safe hull when the strap is released bypass means.

Advantageously, the derivation means are rotatable between the bypass position and the release position.

Thus, the deriving means may move from the bypass position to the release position (or vice versa) by rotating.

In the bypass position and the release position are for example separated by an angle of the order of 180 °.

This allows the user to differentiate in a simple manner the bypass position of the strap release position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bypass means cooperate with control means of a return in the release position.

Advantageously, these control means comprise timing means.

This maintains the strap in the bypass position for a predetermined period of time, for example the time that the user installs the child in the hull. At the end of this predetermined time, the strap is released and resumes its travel position.

Advantageously, the timing means can be armed by the transition from the release position to the bypass position.

The timing means are thus implemented automatically in response to passage of the derivation means from the release position to the bypass position.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, these time delay means comprise a spiral spring device or a wheel device ratchet and pawl.

According to another aspect of the invention, the control means may comprise means for detecting a correct locking of the child's harness.

Thus, the control means of a return bypass means in the release position cooperate with means for detecting a correctly locked child harness. This releases the strap from the bypass position as soon as (or possibly after a short period of time) the child is installed in the shell and the harness of the shell is locked.

6. List of Figures

Other features and advantages of invention will become apparent from reading the following description of a preferred embodiment given as a simple illustrative and not exhaustive, and the attached drawings among which:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows a schematic side view of a shell, held on a seat of a motor vehicle with the strap of the vehicle safety belt, in a conventional position;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> shows a schematic side view of the hull of the child <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Embodying the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">3A to 3C</figref> are views of the strap deriving means according to a first embodiment; and</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">4A to 4D</figref> are views of the strap deriving means according to a second embodiment.</li></ul>

7. Detailed Description of the invention

The principle of the invention therefore relies on the use of bypass means, or offset, on a car seat, and in particular a shell, according to the embodiment described below. These bypass means possible to temporarily dismiss the strap of the seat belt of a vehicle when a user wants to install a child in the shell, or remove it. The bypass means may advantageously release the strap automatically after a predetermined period of time, and / or when it is detected that the child harness restraint in the shell is locked.

The invention can therefore be implemented on a hull such as that illustrated in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>.

A shell 102 of this type, employing a particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically, a side view, on the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>. The shell 102 therefore conventionally comprises a shell comprising a backrest 103 and a seat (not visible), a holding harness comprising for example two loops shoulder and a seating strap, a latch assembly for said harness (not shown).

Hull 102 is based on the seat or seat 104 of a vehicle, and interacts with the seat belt, including the chest strap 101 (which will be called "strap" thereafter) to hold the shell 102 secured of the vehicle.

According to the invention, the shell 102 includes bypass means 105, to rule out the strap 101 during installation of a child in the shell 102. In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>, The bypass means 105 are adapted to be fixed on a side portion 107 of the shell 102 and maintain the strap 101 in a derived position.

Thus, the bypass means 105 of the strap 101 are used to change the path of the strap 101 around the hull 102 and prevent the strap 101 may impede a user who wishes to install a child in the hull 102.

When the strap 101 is held in a position derived as shown in the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>The strap 101 forms an angle α, in the vicinity of the branching means 105, whereas, according to the prior art (<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>) The strap 1 extends in a straight line. The angle α is generally more open practice a right angle, for example 100 to 160 °.

When the strap 101 is no longer held in the position derived by the deriving means, it passes into a release position which corresponds to the position of the strap 1 in the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>.

Means for receiving and guide 106 are located on the rear part of the record 103 on the shell, and allow the guiding of the strap 101 (in the release position) so as to maintain correctly the shell 102 on the seat or the seat 104 of the vehicle so that the shell 102 is less sensitive to lateral and transverse deflections.

The <figref idrefs="f0002">3A to 3C</figref> show more clearly the deriving means of the strap according to a first embodiment. In this embodiment, the bypass means 205 are movable in rotation about an axis I perpendicular to the side portion 207 of the shell 202.

The <figref idrefs="f0002">3A</figref> shows the derivation means 205 in the release position (which corresponds to the strap 1 in the position <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>) In which the strap (not shown) is not ruled out.

The <figref idrefs="f0002">3B</figref> is a side view which shows in more detail the shape of the bypass means 205. This shape can be related to a hook shape of "U". Thus, the bypass means 205 includes a base 209 whose surface is substantially planar and is disposed facing the side portion 207 of the shell 202 and a groove 208 for guiding and holding the strap 201. In the release position of the<figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 3A and 3B</figref>, The groove 208 is oriented upward.

To change the bypass means 205 to the release position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3A</figref>) To the bypass position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3C</figref>), The user manipulates the bypass means 205 so as to rotate an angle of the order of 180 ° in the direction A (<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>). In the illustrated bypass position<figref idrefs="f0002">3C</figref>, The groove 208 is oriented downward. The user can then insert the strap 201 in the groove 208 which prevents movement of the strap 201 upward and thus keeps the strap 201 discarded, so as to facilitate installation of a child in the hull 202. once the child is located, the strap 201 is released from the groove 208 by tilting the bypass means 205 in the direction B until the release position of the<figref idrefs="f0002">3A</figref>.

This tilting can be controlled by the user. However, it is understood that, for safety, it is advantageous to make this automatic failover, so that the strap does not remain deflected, following an oversight or negligence, while the vehicle is moving.

The deriving means 205 thus may advantageously cooperate with control means (not shown) which controls the automatic return bypass means 205 of the bypass position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3C</figref>) To the release position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3A</figref>).

These control means may include timing means which keep the strap 201 departed for a predetermined time period, corresponding to an estimate of the time required for the user installs the child in the shell 202. At the end of this time, the strap 201 is released. These timing means can be mechanical and are preferably integrated in the bypass element itself.

These delay means comprises for example a spiral spring which can rotate a reducing gear, which itself may rotate an eccentric part. The eccentric piece cooperates with a keeper associated with a spring, which can block the bypass means 205. When the bypass means 205 move from the release position to the bypass position, the spiral spring is tensioned and the eccentric piece rotates thereby pushing the latch to the bypass means 205 and block the bypass position.

As the spiral spring relaxes, the reducing wheel rotates and drives the eccentric rotating workpiece. The shape of the eccentric part is selected such that when the spiral spring is relaxed, the waste under the effect of the associated spring is returned to the eccentric part and unblocks the bypass means 205. The differentiating means 205 then return automatically in the webbing release position. The delay time can be set by the user by means of an adjustment knob for example which can change the tension of the spiral spring.

Another solution for implementing the time delay based on the use of a device employing a ratchet wheel and a pawl which can activate a lock striker bypass means 205 and which may, after a predetermined time , disengaging the keeper bypass means 205.

Advantageously, sound sources report that the time is running out, for the user, if necessary, to act on the bypass means to lengthen the time necessary.

Alternatively or in combination, the control means may include means for detecting a correct locking of the child's harness. Thus, when the child is installed in the hull 202 and the harness is properly locked, the control means controls the automatic return bypass means 205 of the bypass position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3C</figref>) To the release position (<figref idrefs="f0002">3A</figref>).

This releases the strap 201 to the separated position when the child is installed in the shell and the harness when the shell is locked. In this case, the control means may be of the electromechanical type and comprise for example a supply circuit for an electromagnet cooperating with a striker lock bypass means 205 in the bypass position. The harness lock may result in closure of an electrical contact of the power supply circuit. The electromagnet is then energized and disables the striker, thereby releasing accordingly the bypass means.

The <figref idrefs="f0003">4A to 4D</figref> show bypass means of the strap according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the bypass means 305 comprise a base 309 which is fixed to the side portion 307 of the shell 302. A hook 311 shaped "L" is mounted between two pivots 310 mounted on the base 309, II along an axis parallel to the side portion 307 of the shell 302.

The hook 311 can switch between the strap release position (<figref idrefs="f0003">Figures 4A and 4B</figref>) To a strap bypass position (<figref idrefs="f0003">4C and 4D</figref>) And vice versa.

In the webbing release position, the hook 311 is not in contact with the base 309 so as to provide a space between the two elements 309 and 311, as shown <figref idrefs="f0003">4A</figref>This particular prevents a child from getting stuck fingers. The hook 311 moves from the strap release position to the bypass position of the swivel strap around the axis II in the direction A, by a manual action by the user.

Reverse tilt in the direction B, as shown <figref idrefs="f0003">4D</figref>Is advantageously automatic, as for the first embodiment, after a predetermined time and / or when the harness is locked.

In the bypass position of the strap, the strap can be inserted (and thus retained expanded) in the space between the hook 311 and the base 309 (<figref idrefs="f0003">4D</figref>). The tilting according to arrow B releases the strap, which automatically resumes its working position.

Several embodiments of variants can be envisaged to ensure the function of the bypass means of the strap. It can for example be at least one ring from or stirrup formed in the back of the hull or fixed (possibly removably) to the back shell. The bypass means may be attached to the shell by riveting or removable manner (by clipping).