CHILD CAR SEAT STRUCTURAL ELEMENT AND MULTI-GROUP CHILD CAR SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element (10) for a child car seat (100), which comprises: —a first portion (11), for constituting a back part of a child car seat for a first child car seat group, or for constituting a seat part of a child car seat for a second car seat group; and —a second portion (12), for constituting a back part of the child car seat for the second child car seat group, or for constituting a seat part of the child car seat for the first child car seat group; —the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) comprising a gas tight envelope enclosing a plurality of layers, the gas tight envelope being in a first flexible state under atmospheric pressure, and in a second rigid state when a negative pressure is applied; and —the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) comprising through holes (110; 120, 121) configured for straps of a belt harness (60). The invention also relates to a multi-group child car seat (100), comprising a frame (500), couplable to a seat of a vehicle and a child car seat structure (10).

Claims

1. Structural element (10) for a multi-group child car seat (100), the structural element (10) comprising: a first portion (11), for constituting a back part of a child car seat for a first child car seat group, or for constituting a seat part of a child car seat for a second car seat group; and a second portion (12), for constituting a back part of the child car seat for the second child car seat group, or for constituting a seat part of the child car seat for the first child car seat group; the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) comprising a gas tight envelope enclosing a plurality of layers, the gas tight envelope being in a first flexible state under atmospheric pressure, and in a second rigid state when a negative pressure is applied; and the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) comprising through holes (110; 120, 121) configured for straps of a belt harness (60).

2. Structural element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first portion (11) comprises a first gas tight envelope and the second portion (12) comprises a second gas tight envelope.

3. Structural element (10) according to claim 1 wherein the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) are connected to each other by means of a middle portion (13).

4. Structural element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first portion (11) and second portion (12) comprise a same gas tight envelope.

5. Structural element (10) according to claim 1 wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers of the first portion (11) and at least one layer of the plurality of layers of the second portion (12) comprise slits.

6. Structural element (10) according to claim 5, wherein said slits extend, in a position of use of the structural element (10), in a vertical direction, constituting vertical folding lines for forming one or more lugs.

7. Structural element (10) according to claim 5 wherein said slits extend, in a position of use of the structural element (10), in a horizontal direction, constituting horizontal folding lines for horizontally folding portions of the structural element (10).

8. Structural element (10) according to claim 1, further comprising one or more indentations (113, 123) extending inwardly in opposite parts of the first and the second portions (11, 12).

9. Structural element (10) according to claim 1 wherein one or more layers of the plurality of layers inside the gas tight envelope are made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (PET) sheets fully coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coating.

10. Structural element (10) according to claim 1 wherein one or more layers of the plurality of layers inside the gas tight envelope comprise one or more of the following or combinations thereof: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE) and cyclic olefin copolymer (COC).

11. Structural element (10) according to claim 1 further comprising coupling means for connecting to a frame (500) of a child car seat.

12. Multi-group child car seat (100), comprising: a frame (500), couplable to a seat of a vehicle; wherein the multi-group child car seat (100) further comprises: a child car seat structure (10) according to claim 1.

13. Multi-group child car seat (100) according to claim 12, wherein the child car seat structure (10) is shaped to conform a back part and a seat part of a child car seat for the first or the second child car seat group.

14. Multi-group child car seat (100) according to claim 12 further comprising a pneumatic kit including a pneumatic component and processing means, the processing means being configured to operate the pneumatic component so as to switch the child car seat structure (10) between the first flexible state and the second rigid state and vice versa.

15. Multi-group child car seat (100) according to claim 12 wherein the child car seat structure (10) has a first preformed shape conforming to a child car seat for the first child car seat group and a second preformed shape conforming to a child car seat for the second child car seat group.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out.

[0057] The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top plan view of a multi-group child car seat structure, in an expanded position, according to a first possible embodiment of the invention.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top plan view of a multi-group child car seat structure, in an expanded position, according to a second possible embodiment of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the multi-group child car seat structure of any of FIG. 1 or 2, partially folded to form part of a group 0-I child car seat.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the multi-group child car seat structure of FIG. 2, in a more advanced folding stage to conform to a group 0-I child car seat.

[0062] FIGS. 5 & 6 show schematic perspective views of the multi-group child car seat structure any of FIG. 1 or 2, in two folding stages to conform to a group II-III child car seat.

[0063] FIGS. 7 and 8 show perspective views of a multi-group child car seat, in its group 0-I and group II-III positions, respectively.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a completely folded multi-group child car seat.

[0065] FIGS. 10-14 show a multi-group child car seat according to a possible embodiment of the invention, the multi-group child car seat being in a fully folded position in FIG. 5. The frame of the multi-group child car seat has been sequentially expanded until the position shown in FIG. 14, in which the frame has been completely deployed for forming a group 0-I car seat.

[0066] FIG. 15 shows another possible embodiment of a multi-group child car seat in a deployed position, similar to the deployed position of FIG. 9.

[0067] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the locking system of the retractable anti-tipping bar.

[0068] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the multi-group child car seat of FIGS. 4-8, in which the structural element is also in a deployed position.

[0069] FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the multi-group child car seat of FIGS. 10-14 & 17.

[0070] FIG. 19 is a side view of the multi-group child car seat of FIGS. 10-14, including details of the coupling between the multi-group child car seat structure and the frame.

[0071] FIG. 20 is a cross-section of an enlarged view of how the multi-group child car seat structure is coupled to the frame.

[0072] FIGS. 21 & 22 are side and perspective views, respectively, of a multi-group child car seat according to a possible embodiment of the invention, the multi-group child car seat being completely deployed for forming a group II-III car seat.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0073] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the invention. Next embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings.

[0074] The present invention and the embodiments shown in the Figures are particularly suitable for a multi-group child car seat.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top plan view of a multi-group child car seat structure 10, in an expanded position. The multi-group child car seat structure 10 essentially consists of a laminar element, which comprises a gas tight envelope. The gas tight envelope encloses several layers (not shown in the drawings).

[0076] The gas tight envelope also comprises a valve or similar (not shown in the figures) for controlling the pressure inside the envelope. This valve is a non-return safety valve (or similar) that prevents that the vacuum conditions from being accidentally removed, in case of an impact or an undesirable manipulation of the child. The multi-group child car seat structure 10 has a flexible state under atmospheric pressure, in which the layers are not compressed against each other and they can be adapted to any desired shape; and a second rigid state when a negative pressure is applied, in which the layers are pressed against each other and the multi-group child car seat structure 10 becomes stiff.

[0077] In the examples that follow, the gas tight envelope is made of a thermoplastic material. Other materials are also possible.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-group child car seat structure 10 comprises a first portion 11 and a second portion 12. The first portion 11 and the second portion are connected by a middle portion 13. The middle portion 13 has a big hole 130 in its central portion, thereby saving material. By means of the middle portion 13 the child car seat structure 10 can be fastened to a base 50 (usually a metallic plate) of a frame 500 of a child car seat, for instance by means of screws. For this purpose, the flap elements 11a, 12a each has several precast circular holes. This middle portion 13 is made of the same thermoplastic material as the gas tight envelope.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows another possible embodiment of a multi-group child car seat structure 10′, also comprising a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, each comprising a separate gas tight envelope, the number and constitution of layers inside one gas tight envelope can be the same or different to the other gas tight envelope. In this specific embodiment, both the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 have respective flap elements 11a, 12a. This flap elements 11a, 12a, are extensions of the respective gas tight envelopes, and are intended to be fixed to a base 50 of a frame 500 of a child car seat. For instance, the flap elements 11a, 12a can be fastened to the base 50 (usually a metallic plate) by means of screws. For this purpose, the flap elements 11a, 12a each has several precast circular holes.

[0080] Other known means for fastening the child car seat structure 10 to the base 50 are possible, regardless of the one-piece of two-piece configuration of the child car seat structure 10, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive layers or nuts and bolts. In order to improve the fixation of the child car seat structure 10 to the base 50, a metallic plate (not shown) can be fixed on top of the middle portion 13 or the flap elements 11a, 12a, reproducing a sandwich structure (base—structure element—metallic plate).

[0081] In a specific configuration, the number of layers inside the gas tight envelope is 13. And all the layers inside the gas tight envelope are made of the same material, this material being PET coated with TPU.

[0082] In another example, the gas tight envelope has a multilayered configuration A/B/C/B/A, wherein layers A, B and C are made of the following materials:

TABLE-US-00001 Layer A Layer B Layer C LDPE - 410E (Dow ®) LDPE- 410E (Dow ®) COC 8007F-600 (Topas ®) MFI = 2.0 g/10 min MFI = 2.0 g/10 min MVR = 2.0 g/10 min (190° C., 2.16 kg) (190° C., 2.16 kg) (190° C., 2.16 kg) VLDPE - Clearflex ® CL B0 (Versalis) MFI = 4.0 g/10 min (190° C., 2.16 kg) Mix proportion LDPE/VLDPE 90/10 MFI = melt flow index; MVR = melt flow rate

[0083] The first portion 110 has two pairs of through holes 110. These holes 110 are intended for lodging and letting straps of a five-point harness belt to pass therethrough, and allow height adjustment (raising and lowering the harness) of the back portion. They are symmetrically disposed with respect to an axis 101 of symmetry of the multi-group child car seat structure 10.

[0084] Similarly, the second portion 12 has a pair of through holes 120, also intended for passing straps of a five-point harness belt therethrough, more specifically, the low strap of the harness comprising a crotch piece. Additionally, the second portion 12 also has several pairs of through holes 121, intended for passing straps of a three-point harness belt therethrough. Further, the second portion 12 also has another pair of through holes 122, for facilitating folding of the multi-group child car seat structure 10. All pairs of holes 120, 121, 123 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis 101 of symmetry.

[0085] According to the invention, the multi-group child car seat structure 10 covers all age groups 0 to III.

[0086] Indeed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multi-group child car seat structure 10 of FIG. 1 has been folded to form part of a group 0-I child car seat as follows: the first portion 11 constitutes a back part of the group 0-I child car seat, and the second portion 12 has been folded to constitute a seat part of the group 0-I child car seat. As more clearly shown in FIG. 4, in this case the second portion 12 has been folded twice (adopting a shape similar to a triangular prism), so as to constitute the seat part of the group 0-I child car seat.

[0087] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the multi-group child car seat structure 10 of FIG. 1 has been folded to form part of a group II-III child car seat as follows: the second portion 12 constitutes a back part of the group II-III child car seat, while the first portion 11 constitutes a seat part of the group II-III child car seat.

[0088] Both the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 have respective indentations 113, 123, which extend inwardly in opposite sides of the first and second portions 11, 12. These vertical indentations facilitate folding of the structural element, and enable that the structural element adopts a specific preformed shape upon application of a negative pressure.

[0089] Vertical dotted lines 113a and 123a represent vertical slits, which are actually not externally visible (unless the gas tight envelope were made of a transparent or translucid material). These vertical slits 113a, 123a have been made in one or more of the layers of the first portion 11 and in one more of the layers of the second portion 12; the gas tight envelope does not have any corresponding vertical slit. These vertical slits constitute vertical folding lines for enabling the formation of one or more lugs, or for folding the back part (of the first portion 11 or of the second portion 12) to adapt to the child's shape and size. Actually, in FIGS. 4 and 6 use of these vertical folding lines has been made of.

[0090] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a multi-group child car seat 100, assembled in its group 0-I position. And FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the same multi-group child car seat 100, assembled in its group II-III position.

[0091] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the multi-group child car seat 100 comprises a one-piece child car seat structure 10″. This one-piece child car seat structure 10″ also has a first portion 11 and a second portion 12. In this embodiment, the second portion 12 is smaller than the second portion 12 of the previous child car seat structures 10, 10′ and the second portion 12 has only been bent once to constitute the seat part of the group 0-I child car seat.

[0092] The sequence shown in FIGS. 10-14 represent a multi-group child car seat 100, starting from a fully folded position in FIG. 10 (suitable for storage and transport) to the position shown in FIG. 14, in which the frame 500 has been completely deployed for forming a group 0-I car seat, together with the corresponding multi-group child car seat structure. For clarity purposes the multi-group child car structure has been removed from FIG. 10.

[0093] The multi-group child car seat 100 comprises a foldable or collapsible frame 500. The frame 500 has a first U-shaped bar 51, which is retractable and pivotable around a pivot axis 511.

[0094] This first U-shaped bar 51 may be positioned in a first fold-away position (shown in FIGS. 10-12); in a second group 0-I position (shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 17-19), in which the first U-shaped bar 51 adopts a first angle with respect to the base 50 of the frame 500; and in a third group II-III position (shown in FIGS. 21-22), in which the first U-shaped bar 51 adopts a second angle with respect to the base 50 of the frame 500.

[0095] The frame 500 also has a second U-shaped bar 52, which is also retractable and pivotable. In FIG. 16, the second U-shaped bar 52 is in its retracted position. In FIG. 11 this second U-shaped bar 52 has been extended, while in FIG. 12 it has been pivoted to its anti-tipping position to form an anti-tipping bar for group 0-I, which is intended to face the back portion of seat of a car (when in group 0-I, the child car seat is facing rearwards). Once the second U-shaped bar 52 is in its anti-tipping position, this position can be locked by outwardly moving two latches 53 (see FIG. 16), whereby their respective fingers engage corresponding holes in the second U-shaped bar 52, thereby locking this position. The anti-tipping position can be released by inwardly moving the two latches 53.

[0096] In the position shown in FIG. 11, the second U-shaped bar 52 can be used as a grip for transporting the multi-group child car seat 100.

[0097] The sequence shows how the first U-shaped bar 51 is first pivoted (FIG. 13) and then extended (FIG. 14) to its second group 0-I position, for accommodating a multi-group child car seat structure 10, 10′ or 10″ (as shown in FIG. 17). The extension and pivoting of the first and second U-shaped bars can be carried out in a different order arriving at the same configuration shown in FIG. 14.

[0098] As readily apparent from several figures (for instance, in FIGS. 7, 10-13), the frame 50 of the child car seat comprises Isofix® attachments 59 for fastening the frame 50 to a seat of a vehicle.

[0099] Also, as shown in several figures (for instance FIG. 8, 11 or 15), the frame 500 comprises wheels 55. For clarity purposes, in some other figures the wheels 55 have not been represented.

[0100] FIG. 15 shows the frame 500 of the multi-group child car seat 100 (again, for clarity, the multi-group child car seat structure 10 has been omitted in the drawings). This FIG. 15 shows a five-point harness 60, and how it is fastened to the frame 500 by means of a support element 54. This support element 54 also act as connection means of the multi-group child car seat structure 10 to the frame and it also allows height regulation of the shoulder straps of the five-point harness 60.

[0101] FIGS. 17 and 18 show front and rear perspective views, respectively, of the multi-group child car seat 100 of FIGS. 10-16, in which the multi-group child car seat structure 10 is mounted on the frame 500 in a group 0-I position. Please note that, for easiness and clarity of the drawings, a cover which is placed on the multi-group child car seat structure 10 and shaped to receive a child has been omitted.

[0102] The frame 500 further comprises clutches 56, 57 and 58 for coupling the frame 500 to a seat of a vehicle. These clutches 56, 57, 58 are configured to receive a fastening belt of the seat of the vehicle. These clutches can be more clearly seen in FIG. 17, 18 or 19.

[0103] FIG. 19 is a schematic side view of the multi-group child car seat 100. It further reflects how the first portion 11 of the multi-group child car seat structure 10 (which constitutes the back portion of the seat in the group 0-I) is coupled to the frame 500. The support element 54 (cf. FIG. 16) includes two protrusions 54a, which are to be coupled means to respective two holes 51a in the first U-shaped bar 51; these two protrusions 54a are snap-fitted into a push member 51b of the first U-shaped bar 51 (see FIG. 20).

[0104] FIGS. 21 and 22 are side and perspective views, respectively, of the multi-group child car seat 100, forming a group II-Ill car seat.

[0105] FIG. 21 includes an enlarged view of how the second portion 12 of the multi-group child car seat structure 10 (which constitutes the back portion of the seat of the group II-III) is coupled to the frame 500 by means of snap fasteners.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 22, the second portion 12 constitutes the back part of the group II-Ill child car seat, while the first portion 11 constitutes the seat part of the group II-Ill child car seat.

[0107] It should be noted that the attached Figures are schematic representations and not CAD drawing for manufacturing. Thus, in some of the figures (particularly in FIGS. 13 and 14), one or more elements of the frame 50 seem to physically traverse the structural element 10, but this is just to be considered as a mere drawing issue.

[0108] In this text, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0109] On the other hand, the invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiment(s) described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.