WO2009001066A1

WO2009001066A1 - Vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: WO2009001066A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Pownall
Original assignee: Cogent Passenger Seating Limited
Priority date: 2007-06-23
Filing date: 2008-06-23
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: GB0712200D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat (2) for a vehicle adjustable to provide a safe and comfortable support for a range of users having different heights and weights. Booster seats are commonly used having the effect of altering the height of the seat, however, this is impractical in a number of vehicle types. The present invention therefore provides a seating system (2) for mounting in a vehicle, the system (2) including a back rest (4) and a base portion (6). The base portion (6) is height adjustable linearly relative to the back rest (4) between a first useable configuration of the second useable configuration. The system (2) further includes an anchoring point (16) for a seatbelt arrangement, wherein the base portion (6) is moveable independently of the anchoring point (16).

Description

Vehicle Seat

The present invention relates to a seat for a vehicle that is adjustable to provide a safe and comfortable support for a range of users having different heights and weights.

Vehicle seats and seat belts are generally designed to fit an adult's body and do not provide an environment in which children in particular are held securely. In accordance with government regulations, booster seats are now compulsory in cars for children under a certain height. Booster seats are positioned on the vehicle seat such that, when a child sits on it, they are raised up such that the lap and shoulder belts of the vehicle are correctly positioned to restrain the child safely. Without the provision of a booster seat, an adult seat belt can actually cause injury in the event of a crash rather preventing it. If the lap belt rests on the child's stomach (which it is likely to do without a booster seat), for instance, the child could suffer stomach, liver or spleen damage in a crash. Hence, the calculation of the H point, which is a notional point, approximately mid-pelvic area which the lap part of a lap and diagonal seatbelt must cross in order to ensure that it sits across skeletal structure rather than soft tissue. Additionally, if the shoulder belt rests on the neck rather than the chest, the child may try to move it under the arm where, in the event of a crash, they could crack ribs, damage internal organs, or behind the back where it offers no protection at all against the head, neck and spinal injuries.

Booster seats in private vehicles are therefore a simple and effective approach to overcoming these potential hazards. However, the above-mentioned regulations relate to private vehicles only and do not extend to public transport vehicles. For this reason, operators still allow children to sit in an adult seat and use adult seat belts. If booster seats were to be offered on public transport vehicles, a. large contingency for the varying sizes of booster required would have to be made. This provision would have to be made for each of the vehicles, with the inherent danger that the booster seats could be spoilt whilst being carried or in storage or could be damaged, lost or stolen. This is obviously a very expensive and impractical solution. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a seat that enables passengers of a variety of heights to be transported equally safely, without the need for multiple different booster seats.

According to the present invention there is provided a seating system for mounting in a vehicle, the system including a backrest and a base portion, wherein the base portion is height adjustable linearly relative to the backrest between a first useable configuration and a second useable configuration, the system further including an anchoring point for a seatbelt arrangement, wherein the base portion is moveable independently of the anchoring point.

The advantages afforded by such an arrangement are significant as outlined in detail throughout the specification, however a significant benefit is that a single seat can be used for a wide variety of user heights without the requirement for child booster seats.

A second anchoring point is preferably provided for the seatbelt arrangement, the second anchoring point arranged to secure the lap portion of the seatbelt arrangement.

The system may further comprise a third anchoring point arranged to provide, together with the first and second anchoring points, a three-point harness for a user.

The first and/or second and/or third anchor points are even. more preferably provided on the seat.

The first and/or second and/or third anchor points are provided on the backrest.

The backrest preferably comprises a moveable portion for supporting a user's back, the portion arranged to move between a first useable configuration and a second protruding useable configuration, where, in the second configuration the portion protrudes from the backrest. The moveable portion is preferably arranged to pivot between the first and second configurations.

The base portion is preferably height adjustable relative to said backrest between a range of discrete useable configurations.

The base portion is preferably height adjustable relative to said backrest continuously through a range of useable configurations between first and second limits.

The base portion is preferably moveable relative to a guide means positioned on the backrest. This enables a user or person responsible for the user's well-being to judge the correct height of the base portion relative to the backrest.

The seat preferably further comprises actuation means to enable movement of the base portion relative to the backrest, the actuation means may comprise a mechanical system. Alternatively, the actuation means may comprise a gas strut.

The seat preferably further comprises a fixing means for enabling a seatbelt arrangement to be mounted thereto.

The seat may further comprise a seatbelt arrangement mounted thereto.

The backrest preferably comprises a connection means arranged to co-act with a portion of a child seat for enabling a releasable connection therebetween. The connection means preferably comprises a female connecting portion for receiving a male connecting portion of a child seat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is a seat having a backrest, the backrest comprising a moveable portion for supporting a user's back, the portion arranged to move between a first useable configuration and a second protruding useable configuration, where, in the second configuration the portion protrudes from the backrest. The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art seat for a vehicle.

Figures 2a-c are side views of a seat in three various configurations according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 3a-b are schematic perspective views of the seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4a-b are plan views of the embodiment of the seat shown in Figures 3a-b.

The use of "ISOfix" anchorage points are increasingly being installed in new cars as safety improvements are made in respect of vehicle travel. The benefit of such a system is that it allows a child restraint to be secured safely to the main structure of the car, helping to minimise the risk of poor or incorrect seat installation. Height fixtures are permanent in a seat and enable "ISOfix" compatible child restraints with "ISOfix" fittings to be able to be fitted and released very easily without needing to use adult seat belts. Such child seats are generally used for children up until the age of approximately four years and this provides a simple and secure system for safely retaining a child. However, once this approximate age has passed or child weight in the order of 15kg has been reached, the child becomes too large for such a seat and booster seats are therefore used which simply enable the user to be raised such that the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts restrain the child safely and the correct "H" point for the child is obtained. However, although booster cushions can be used, it is very difficult to provide such booster seats on public transport where operators would require a large number of different size booster seats but with the inherent problem that these could be spoilt whilst being carried or in storage, or could be damaged, lost or stolen.

Referring to Figure 1, a prior art vehicle chair 2 is indicated comprising a squab 4 and cushion portion 6 wherein the seat is maintained in a raised configuration via supports 8. Mounted within the squab 4 is a known fixing mechanism for fixing a child seat to the chair. This system is commonly known as "ISOfix", wherein the mechanism 10 comprises a female engaging portion arranged to mate with a corresponding male engaging portion located at the rearward edge of a child seat. The arrangement 10 comprises means to releasably lock the male engaging portion of the child seat in position. This removes the requirement for a seatbelt to pass through apertures in a child seat, and provides a much more simple mechanism whilst additionally improving safety.

Referring to Figure 2, there is schematic side view of a seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein a cushion portion 6 is enabled to raise as schematically shown in Figure 2a in the lowered position, in Figure 2b in an intermediate raised position and in Figure 2c in a higher raised configuration. As explained above, the object of the invention is to enable the correct "H" point location for children of all ages. The "H" point is a notional point approximately mid-pelvic area which allows the lap part of a lap and diagonal seatbelt to sit across skeletal structure rather than soft tissue. As indicated in Figure 2, the "H" point is numbered 12. For smaller children, it is desirable for the cushion portion 6 to be higher such that the lap portion of a lap and diagonal seatbelt will not cut into the user's stomach causing potential injury. Used in conjunction with a height adjustable diagonal portion of the seatbelt, neck injury can also be avoided. For this reason, as indicated in Figure 2c, the cushion portion 6 is in the extended configuration. The cushion portion 6 is actuated by any suitable actuation means, which may include a mechanical device or alternatively a mechanism of the type commonly used on office chairs. The actuation means 14 preferably comprises a rod in communication with the lower portion of the cushion portion 6 and is arranged to extend causing the cushion portion 6 to rise and fall. The actuation means 14 comprises a mechanism to lock the cushion portion 6 at the desired height relative to the squab 4. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuation means 14 may comprise a spring loaded type mechanism whereby a spring is biased to raise the cushion portion 6 relative to the squab 4 and a locking mechanism is provided to lock the cushion portion 6 in the desired position. When a user sits on the cushion portion 6, and the locking means is released, their weight acts to lower the cushion portion 6 against the spring such that the cushion portion 6 is lowered accordingly. Alternatively, a type of mechanism is proposed which generally comprises a pair of rigid walled hydraulic fluid filled chambers which communicate with each other by means of a hollow conduit. One of the chambers may be expandible so as to have a variable volume and the other chamber contains a compressed gas whereby the hydraulic fluid can be transferred from the pressurised chamber to the expandible chamber when a control valve in the hollow conduit is opened. As the fluid volume in the expandible chamber increases, the support member will be urged upwardly thereby raising the chair seat. A control means is provided to control a hollow conduit valve to enable the transfer of fluid between the chambers. The chair seat is returned to its retracted position by transferring fluid from the variable volume chamber to the pressurised chamber. As the expandible chamber is compressed the volume of that chamber is reduced thereby causing the fluid to be forced out of that chamber and into the pressurised chamber. Such mechanisms are widely available in the art. An advantage of this type of arrangement is that height of the seat portion 6 may be easily adjusted depending on the height of the user.

The seat portion 6 moves linearly relative to the squab 4 between a plurality of useable configurations wherein the seat portion 6 is in abutment with the squab 4 in a plurality of useable configurations. Linear movement is then apparent which acts to prevent or assist to prevent a user from losing anything between the seat portion 6 and the squab 4 or additionally from the user catching fingers in any mechanisms. Furthermore, movement in this manner ensures that no component of the seat portion moves to extend outwardly from the back of the seat.

A guide means is preferably provided on the squab 4 of the chair. Such a guide means may comprise indicia marked on the backrest indicating the height that the seat portion 6 should be relative to the squab 4 depending on the height of the user. As an example, this may be easily achieved by providing indicia on the seat marked at the height the user's eye level should be. If a user sits on the cushion portion 6 and their eye level is below the indicia, then the user should enable the cushion portion 6 to be raised. This could be easily be carried out by an adult when checking that a child is safely secured in the seat ready for travelling. Conversely, if a user's eye level is above the indicia, the cushion portion 6 should accordingly be lowered.

An anchoring mechanism 16 is provided adjacent to, and at the side of, the cushion portion 6 of the seat. As schematically shown in Figure 2, the side of the seat is shown whereby the lap and diagonal seatbelt is drawn from the opposing side where it is fixed towards the top and bottom of the opposing side portion. In use, the seatbelt includes a buckle and the seatbelt is drawn across the user and interlocked with the anchoring mechanism 16. Such a releasable connection mechanism is extensively used in current vehicle transport applications. It will be appreciated therefore that irrespective of whether the seatbelt anchoring mechanism 16 is adjustable, any user over a certain age of approximately four years (i.e. over approximately 15 kilos) will be unable to use the seat. The smaller the user, the higher the cushion portion 6 should be raised thereby adjusting the "H" point location to the appropriate position.

Additional to the exemplary embodiment of the chair as indicated in respect of Figure 2, there is an additional "ISOfix" system which is suitable for children up to approximately four years of age which would cover the age range nine months to four years old and approximate weight of 9-18kg. This will accommodate a forward facing child seat. As indicated above, an "ISOfix" child restraint has latches on the back to releasably lock into the mounting point in the seat. Including such an "ISOfix" type attachment mechanism ensures that children of ages of approximately nine months onwards to be accommodated by such a chair.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a feature that may be incorporated into the exemplary embodiment of the present invention or may be provided independently of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention described above is an arrangement whereby the back rest, and in particular a portion for supporting a user's back, may be arranged to protrude from the surface of the back rest to provide a second useable configuration which has the effect of pushing the user further forward on the seat. This is particularly beneficial for children which removes the requirement for separate booster seat arrangements and ensures that the child sits on the seat squab 4 and their legs extend over the edge of the seat squab whilst maintaining the correct "H" point location. Such an arrangement is suitable for children in the age range of approximately 9 months to 4 years old where the child is too old for a rearward facing seat but is too young for a normal adult seat. In one exemplary configuration, portions 30 may comprise a cut out area of the back rest, the cut out including part of the edge of each side of the seat. This portion 30 is retained in the first configuration by, for example, a hook and loop type arrangement such as Velcro and may pivot about an axis running in the longitudinal length of the seat such that when the portion 30 pivots about this axis it will rotate until the forward facing surface of the portion 30 comes into contact with the back rest. The corresponding portion 30 on the opposing side of the seat also rotates accordingly to be located in the configuration as indicated in Figure 3b. The overall effect is that the back rest which supports a user's back protrudes from the plane of the back rest as shown in Figure 3 a in the first configuration. The squab 4 can then move up and down in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the guide as previously described for the height of the child who is using the seat. It will be appreciated that the protrusion is of sufficient height up the backrest such that movement of the squab 4 is not affected. Figure 4a and 4b clarify the exemplary embodiment wherein the portions 30 rotate about hinge 32 and the user 34 is pushed further forward on the squab 4. It would be appreciated that alternative arrangements may be utilised to provide the effect of effectively increasing the depth of the backrest depending on the height of the user, such as the provision of a portion which pivots about an axis transverse to the backrest or, for example, an arrangement including some mechanical means which pushes a portion of the backrest generally outwards in order to increase the effective depth of the backrest without any hinge being utilised. This would be envisaged to sit behind the seat covering and may be actuated by an actuation means such as a lever which releases a biasing means which may push the moveable portion from the first to the second configuration.

In the second configuration whereby the effective depth of the backrest is increased, a harness arrangement may be provided, fixedly connected to the seat behind the folding portion of the backrest which is most suitable for children between the approximate ages of 9 months to 4 years. Such a harness could be arranged to pass over the shoulders of a child and include a buckle which sits in a position on the squab between the legs of the user

^' thereby providing a shoulder harness. Such a harness is commonly found in known child vehicle seats. This provides a secure seat for a child between the approximate ages of 9 months and four years. It will be appreciated that in the first configuration the seat can be used in the normal way for an adult without the harness or folding portions 30 causing discomfort to the user.

It would further be appreciated that a locking means may be provided to prevent a user such as a child from moving the seat squab 4 once the seat is being set to the correct height for the child. This prevents tampering by the child and ensures that the child remains in the safest seat configuration for their height. A system envisaged is the provision of a key which the driver of the vehicle or responsible adult must insert in order to actuate the actuation means 14.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A seating system for mounting in a vehicle, the system including a backrest and a base portion, wherein the base portion is height adjustable linearly relative to the backrest between a first useable configuration and a second useable configuration, the system further including an anchoring point for a seatbelt arrangement, wherein the base portion is moveable independently of the anchoring point.

2. A seating system according to claim 1 comprising a second anchoring point for the seatbelt arrangement, the second anchoring point arranged to secure the lap portion of the seatbelt arrangement.

3. A system according to any preceding claim further comprising a third anchoring point arranged to provide, together with the first and second anchoring points, to provide a three-point harness for a user.

4. A seat according to claim 3 wherein the first and/or second and/or third anchor points are provided on the seat.

5. A seat according to claim 4 wherein the first and/or second and/or third anchor points are provided on the backrest.

6. A seat according to any preceding claim wherein the backrest comprises a moveable portion for supporting a user's back, the portion arranged to move between a first useable configuration and a second protruding useable configuration, where, in the second configuration the portion protrudes from the backrest.

7. A seat according to claim 6 wherein the moveable portion is arranged to pivot between the first and second configurations.

8. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein said base portion is height adjustable relative to said backrest between a range of discrete useable configurations.

9. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein said base portion is height adjustable relative to said backrest continuously through a range of useable configurations between first and second limits.

10. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the base portion is moveable relative to a visual guide means positioned on the backrest.

1 1. A seat according to any preceding claim further comprising actuation means to enable movement of the base portion relative to the backrest.

12. A seat according to claim 12, wherein the actuation means comprises a mechanical system.

13. A seat according to claim 1 1 , wherein the actuation means comprises a gas strut.

14. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the backrest comprises a connection means arranged to co-act with a portion of a child seat for enabling a releasable connection therebetween.

15. A seat according to claim 14, wherein the connection means comprises a female connecting portion for receiving a male connecting portion of a child seat.

16. A seat having a backrest, the backrest comprising a moveable portion for supporting a user's back, the portion arranged to move between a first useable configuration and a second protruding useable configuration, where, in the second configuration the portion protrudes from the backrest.