CHILD SEAT WITH AN IMPACT SHIELD FOR MOUNTING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to a child seat, wherein the child seat comprises a main body for receiving a child and an impact shield for holding the child, wherein the child seat is configured such that a center of gravity of the child, at least in an initial state at the beginning of a sudden deceleration of the motor vehicle and/or at the beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the vehicle seat and/or at the beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the main body during a sudden deceleration of the motor vehicle, for example in the event of a frontal impact, is at least approximately at or below, preferably slightly below, a level at which a child rotation axis is located, about which rotation axis the child rotates with respect to the main body, as soon as the child starts to rotate with respect to the main body, and/or is at least approximately at or below, preferably slightly below, a level at which at least one impact shield rotation axis is located about which the impact shield can rotate with respect to the main body.

Claims

1. A system comprising a motor vehicle and a child seat arranged on a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle, wherein the child seat has a main body for accommodating a child and an impact shield for holding the child, wherein the child seat is configured such, that a center of gravity of the child, at least in an initial state at a beginning of a sudden deceleration of the motor vehicle or at a beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the vehicle seat or at a beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the main body during a sudden deceleration of the motor vehicle is at least approximately at or below a level at which a child rotation axis is located about which the child rotates relative to the main body as soon as the child starts to rotate relative to the main body, or is at least approximately at or below a level at which at least one impact shield rotation axis is located about which the impact shield can rotate relative to the main body.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises at least one seating section which defines a seating area on which the child can sit and lateral support sections, for laterally supporting the child, or wherein the impact shield comprises at least one middle section for holding the child and lateral sections which support themselves on the supporting sections of the main body.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a front section of a seating area of the main body has a centrally located elevation for restraining the child.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child seat main body has a first fastening means, an Isofix fastening means or a latch fastening means, for fastening the child seat to the vehicle seat, or in that the child seat main body or impact shield has a guide mechanism for receiving a motor vehicle belt in such a way that the child seat is fastenable to the motor vehicle seat, or in that the child seat main body is rotatable about a child seat rotation axis or main body rotation axis relative to the vehicle seat.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the impact shield is at least substantially rigidly connected or connectable to the main body, or at least partially detachably connected or connectable to the main body relative to a rotation or translation.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child rotation axis lies on an upper surface or an inner surface of the impact shield at the beginning of the child's rotation, or in that the child rotation axis displaces itself relative to the impact shield, or in that the child rotation axis remains stationary relative to the impact shield.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the impact shield is rotationally movable without allowing a pure translation, the impact shield is at least partially detachably connected or connectable to the main body, the impact shield is rotationally movable about exactly one impact shield rotation axis or the impact shield is rotationally movable about exactly two impact shield rotation axes or the impact shield is rotationally movable about more than two impact shield rotation axes connected or connectable to the main body, wherein preferably at least one impact shield rotation axis is at least temporarily identical with the child rotation axis.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child seat comprises at least one impact shield fastening means for fastening the impact shield to the main body, wherein the impact shield fastening means: allows a rotation of the impact shield about exactly one or exactly two or more than two impact shield rotation axes, or has at least one first section, or at least one first section on each side of the main body, which is linked or linkable to the main body, or at least one second section, or at least one second section on each side of the impact shield, which is linked or linkable to the impact shield, or has at least one or exactly one or two articulated connection(s) in a connecting section between the main body and the impact shield, or is formed rigidly at least in sections, completely, or apart from corresponding articulated connections, or is formed dimensionally unstable at least in sections, completely, or has at least one belt section.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the impact shield is rotatable relative to the main body about at least one first impact shield rotation axis or at least one second impact shield rotation axis, which deviates from the first impact shield rotation axis, at least at a beginning of the rotation of the child relative to the vehicle seat or at a beginning of the rotation of the child relative to the main body, and lies above a level of the first impact shield rotation axis or lies in front of the first impact shield rotation axis or coincides with the first impact shield rotation axis, and wherein: the first impact shield rotation axis is defined by a link of a connecting device for connecting the main body and the impact shield to the main body, or by a link to the impact shield; or the second impact shield rotation axis is defined by a link of the connecting device for connection between main body and impact shield to the impact shield; or the center of gravity of the child lies at least at the beginning of a rotation of the child at least approximately at the level of or below a level of the second impact shield rotation axis or behind the second impact shield rotation axis; or the center of gravity of the child, at least at the beginning of a rotation of the child, lies at least approximately at the level of the first impact shield rotation axis or above or below a level of the first impact shield rotation axis or in front of the first impact shield rotation axis; or the main body has an underside, wherein a connecting line which connects and is perpendicular to the first and second impact shield rotation axes, has an angle of less than 60° and more than 10° relative to the underside of the child seat or is aligned at least substantially parallel to at least one support surface on which the impact shield is supported on the main body; or a rotation of the impact shield about the first impact shield rotation axis causes the impact shield to exert a force on the support surface on which the impact shield is supported on the main body, said force directed at least substantially perpendicular to the support surface; or the first impact shield rotation axis is arranged above a lower end of the impact shield or above a lower end of the support surface on which the impact shield is supported on the main body; or the first or second impact shield rotation axis is arranged above a child seat rotation axis, main body rotation axis, about which the child seat or its main body rotates relative to the vehicle seat.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child seat is configured such that a center of gravity of the child during the rotation remains at least approximately at a level of the child rotation axis or at least one impact shield rotation axis or moves upwards relative to the level of the child rotation axis or at least one impact shield rotation axis, from an initial position at least slightly below this level to an intermediate or final state at least slightly above this level.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child seat is configured in such a way that during a progressing rotation of the child at least or exactly one reversal of the direction of rotation of the child relative to the main body or the motor vehicle occurs.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the child is provided and positioned and secured, in the child seat.

13. A child seat according to claim 1, for mounting on a motor vehicle seat, wherein the child seat comprises a main body for accommodating a child and an impact shield for holding the child, wherein the child seat is configured in such a way that a center of gravity of the child, at least in an initial state at the beginning of a rotation of the child or at the beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the main body in the event of a deceleration of the motor vehicle, is at least approximately at or, slightly below a level at which a child rotation axis lies about which the child rotates relative to the main body as soon as the child starts to rotate relative to the main body, or at least approximately at or, preferably slightly below a level at which at least one impact shield rotation axis lies, at least when the child seat is arranged on a motor vehicle seating surface in such a way that the child seat is inclined at an angle of at least 0° and at most 30° relative to horizontal.

14. (canceled)

15. A method of arranging a child seat on a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle, with provision of a system according to claim 1, wherein the child seat comprises a main body for accommodating a child and an impact shield for holding the child, wherein the child seat is configured and arranged such that a center of gravity of the child, at least in an initial state at a beginning of a rotation of the child or at a beginning of a rotation of the child relative to the main body during a deceleration of the motor vehicle, is at least approximately at or, slightly below a level at which a child rotation axis is located about which the child rotates relative to the main body as soon as the child starts to rotate relative to the main body, or is at least approximately at or, slightly below a level at which at least one impact shield rotation axis lies.

Description

[0113] In the following, the invention is described by means of execution examples which are explained in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0114] Hereby show:

[0115] FIG. 1 a side view of a child seat according to the invention;

[0116] FIG. 2 an oblique view of the child seat according to FIG. 1;

[0117] FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view of a child seat mounted on a vehicle seat;

[0118] FIG. 4 the child seat according to FIG. 3 during an impact situation;

[0119] FIG. 5 the child seat according to FIGS. 3 and 4 as the impact situation progresses;

[0120] FIG. 6 the child seat according to FIGS. 3 to 5 during further progress of the impact situation;

[0121] FIG. 7 a view according to FIG. 3 of a further embodiment of the child seat according to the invention;

[0122] FIG. 8 an illustration according to FIG. 3 of a further embodiment of the child seat according to the invention.

[0123] In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical and identically acting parts.

[0124] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a child seat 10 according to the invention, comprising a main body 11 as well as an impact shield 12. The main body 11 comprises a seating section 13 as well as a back section 14 with an (optional) headrest 15. The main body has a first fastening means 16 (here optionally comprising two Isofix anchoring structures). The impact shield 12 is attached or attachable to the main body 11 via a second fastening means (impact shield fastening means) 17. The second fastening means 17 comprises at least a first part 18 (specifically in the form of a belt buckle) as well as a second part 19 (comprising a corresponding belt tongue 21). A first part 18 and a second part 19 may be provided on each side (i.e. left and right respectively). However, it is also conceivable that the side not shown in FIG. 1 has a different fastening solution (for example, a non-detachable fastening or another detachable fastening).

[0125] In the present embodiment example, the (respective) first part 18 (belt buckle) is formed on the seating section 13, in particular integrally therewith. The (respective) second part 19 can, besides the belt tongue 21, also have a belt or belt section 20, which is or can preferably be placed (transversely) over the impact shield.

[0126] At least in the case of a frontal accident (in which it can be assumed that the belt 20 is tightened, alternatively instead of a per se flexible belt there could also be a rigid element or such an element could be considered at least here for further explanation), the impact shield 12 can rotate (relative to the main body 11) at two points (places or locations) (preferably on each side of the child seat). Firstly, the fastening of the belt 20 to the belt tongue 21 allows a rotation of the impact shield about this point or area (or a corresponding axis; as explained schematically below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, there this would correspond to the first impact shield rotation axis). Furthermore, the belt 20 is mounted in at least one belt guide mechanism 22 on the impact shield, whereby a further belt guide 22 is not recognisable in FIG. 1 (see also FIG. 2) and thus allows a further rotation possibility (which in the schematic representation according to FIGS. 3 to 6 corresponds to the second impact shield rotation axis, as explained further below).

[0127] Insofar as the individual rotation axes and their location are explained below, it shall be assumed (or presumed) that this preferably runs through the centre of respective recesses or guide and/or retaining structures 25 (and indeed in the lateral direction), even if the rotation axis should not be exactly there in each case (for example, taking into account a twisting of the belt). Generally, a respective rotation axis should be located where a centre of a structure that enables the corresponding rotation is located.

[0128] In other words, the belt 20 may be connected to the impact shield 12 at a respective third connection point (connection place) 26, and to the respective belt tongue or (when inserted) to the corresponding belt buckle or generally to the main body 11 at a respective fourth connection point (connection place) 27. Both the (respective) third connection point 26 and the (respective) fourth connection point 27 allow a rotation of the belt 20 about these locations and thus defines a respective rotation axis for the impact shield (impact shield rotation axis).

[0129] The seating section 13 preferably comprises (at least substantially) lateral wings 28, which (respectively) form a corresponding support surface 29 (for supporting the impact shield 12). Between the third and fourth connection points 26, 27, the belt 20 (in the side view shown or in a lateral projection) runs at least substantially parallel to the (respective) support surface 29 (or a contact line between the support surface 29 and a lateral section 30 of the impact shield 12).

[0130] FIG. 2 shows the seat according to FIG. 1 in an oblique view. A seating area 32 of the seating section 13 as well as a support section 33, which forms the respective support surface 29, on each side (left and right) can be seen here. Furthermore, it can be seen that the impact shield has a middle section 34 as well as (angled relative to it, in particular angled downwards) (on each side) a lateral section 30. The middle section 34 is designed to hold the child, in particular to restrain it in the event of an impact. The lateral sections 30 are provided to hold the child laterally (for example the child's thighs) and/or to allow the impact shield to be supported on the support section 33. An elevation (bulge) 36 is visible in a centre of a front section of the seating section 32. By this elevation 36 the child can be effectively restrained in effective cooperation with the specific impact shield.

[0131] FIG. 3 shows (highly) schematically a child seat 10 installed on a vehicle seat 100. The child seat 10 can be designed with further constructional details as the child seat shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or can be designed in a different (specific) way.

[0132] The impact shield 12 can rotate relative to the main body 11 about a first impact shield rotation axis 41 as well as (at least in principle also about) a second impact shield rotation axis 42. The child seat 11 is attached to the vehicle seat 100 via the first fastening means 16 (specifically, this fastening can be designed as an Isofix fastening).

[0133] FIG. 3 shows a condition of the child seat 11 as well as vehicle seat 100 when the vehicle is stationary or driving normally (without unusually high accelerations). In such a state, the vehicle seat has an inclination 43 relative to the horizontal. Accordingly, the child seat 10 is also inclined at the same angle relative to the horizontal. The angle shown in FIG. 3 can also be smaller (or possibly larger) or even be zero. In any case, in the initial configuration according to FIG. 3, a centre of gravity S of a child K is (slightly) below a level of the second impact shield rotation axis 42 as well as above a level of the first impact shield rotation axis 41. Furthermore, the centre of gravity S is behind the second impact shield rotation axis 42 and in front of the first impact shield rotation axis 41.

[0134] In FIG. 4 the child seat from FIG. 3 is now shown at the beginning of an event of (sudden) deceleration (for example in the case of a frontal impact). The entire child seat 10 now begins to rotate around a child seat rotation axis 45 (in particular, specifically around the Isofix connections), so that a padding of the vehicle seat 100 is compressed. At the time shown in FIG. 4, rotation of the impact shield 12 relative to the main body 11 has not yet begun (at least not substantially). Rather, it is the case that child K and impact shield 12 are following the rotation of the entire child seat 10 or the main body 11 about the child seat rotation axis 45. In this case the centre of gravity S of the child K is still (at least slightly) below the second (upper) impact shield rotation axis 42 but less far below than in the position according to FIG. 3.

[0135] FIG. 5 shows a situation (briefly) after that of FIG. 4. The rotation of the child seat 10 around the child seat rotation axis 45 has continued. At the same time (especially since the previous course of the sudden deceleration event has taken slip out of the system, as well as due to the resistance of the cushion of the child seat, which is correspondingly accompanied by a decrease in a corresponding rotational speed), impact shield 12 as well as child K have started a rotational movement relative to the main body 11. The impact shield 12 does not rotate (at least substantially) about the first impact shield rotation axis 41 (in particular due to a support by the respective support surface 29). Rather, the impact shield rotates (at least substantially) about the second impact shield rotation axis 42. The child K, in turn, rotates together with the impact shield and thereby in a direction below the impact shield (or in such a way that a front end of the impact shield goes at least slightly upwards). The centre of gravity S of the child K is here (at least approximately) in a horizontal plane in which the second impact shield rotation axis 42 lies and furthermore (comparatively considerably) above a horizontal plane in which the first impact shield rotation axis 41 lies. Overall, the impact shield 12 and child K rotate counterclockwise (relative to the main body) in a view of the right side of the child seat 10. The relative rotation of the impact shield relative to the main body can be seen in particular in that the support surface is no longer aligned exactly parallel to the impact shield.

[0136] FIG. 6 shows a situation (briefly) after that in FIG. 5. The rotation of the child seat 10 about the child seat rotation axis 45 has now ended (for example, as the seating section of the child seat 10 reaches a fixed support structure of the motor vehicle seat, such as a frame thereof). At the same time, the impact shield 12 now rotates clockwise (as viewed from the right side of the child seat) about the second impact shield rotation axis 42 (as the centre of gravity S of the child K is now at least slightly above a horizontal plane in which the second impact shield rotation axis 42 lies). All in all, by this type of adjustment (including an occurring reversal of the direction of rotation) it is prevented in a simple manner that the impact shield or the child rotate excessively.

[0137] FIG. 7 shows (highly schematically) a child seat 10 in a normal position (when the vehicle is stationary or in a normal driving situation without excessive acceleration), which is mounted on a vehicle seat 100 (analogous to FIGS. 3 to 6). The child seat 10 and vehicle seat 11 can generally be designed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 to 6 respectively (although this is not mandatory). Differences to this are explained below.

[0138] In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 6, the impact shield 12 is here fixed (at least stationary) relative to the main body 11. Specifically, the impact shield 12 can be brought into engagement with the main body 11, where for this purpose (for example as shown in FIG. 7) a (e.g. upwardly projecting) projection 50 can be provided (alternatively or additionally, the impact shield 12 can also have a corresponding projection which can be brought into engagement with a recess on the main body). Of course, a stationary connection can be realised in another way (that is in particular a connection that can be adjusted in such a way that at least no rotation, possibly also no translation is possible). The impact shield 12 has a rear upper edge defining a child rotation axis 51 (about which the child rotates in the event of forward acceleration relative to the vehicle seat 100). A centre of gravity S of the child K is below this child rotation axis. Also in FIG. 7 (as explained in connection with FIGS. 3 to 6), the child seat 100 can preferably rotate about a child seat rotation axis 45, so that the centre of gravity S of the child K as well as the child rotation axis 51 move against each other with progressing deceleration process (in particular before, possibly shortly after, a rotation about the child rotation axis has begun), so that the rotation of the child K about the child rotation axis 51, if necessary, occurs in a direction above the impact shield (or is inverted from a rotation in a direction below the impact shield 12 into a direction above the impact shield 12) whereby in the case of a rotation below the impact shield 12 a corresponding child rotation axis can be defined by a lower rear edge of the impact shield 12.

[0139] FIG. 8 shows a further (highly schematic) illustration of a further embodiment of a child seat in a normal use situation, installed on a vehicle seat 100. Here, too, the child seat 10 can, possibly, be designed as explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 3 to 6 (taking into account the deviations explained below).

[0140] Here, the impact shield 12 is rotatable relative to the main body 11 about only a single impact shield rotation axis 60. To this end, specifically (deviating solutions are possible) a projection 50 can be provided on the main body (possibly at least in a side view or formed in cross-section as in FIG. 7), whereby the impact shield 12 is mounted on this projection, for example via a rod and/or at least one pin. Although the centre of gravity S of the child K is below the impact shield rotation axis 60, the rotation of the child seat 10 about the child seat rotation axis 45 may move the centre of gravity S and the impact shield rotation axis 60 (which may simultaneously form a child rotation axis) relative to each other before (or shortly after) the rotation about the impact shield rotation axis 60 has begun, such that the rotation of the child about the impact shield rotation axis 60 occurs (immediately) in a direction above the impact shield 12, or is inverted from a rotation in a direction below the impact shield (about an axis which may be defined by a rear lower corner of the impact shield 12) to a rotation in a direction above the impact shield.

[0141] At this point, it should be noted that all of the parts described above, taken individually and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention. Modifications thereof are familiar to the skilled person.

[0142] Furthermore, it is pointed out that the broadest possible scope of protection is sought. In this respect, the invention defined in the claims can also be specified by features which are described with further features (even without these further features necessarily being included). It is explicitly pointed out that round brackets and the term “in particular”/“particularly” are intended to emphasise the optionality of features in the respective context (which does not mean, conversely, that a feature is to be regarded as mandatory in the corresponding context without such identification).

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0143] K child [0144] S centre of gravity [0145] 10 child seat [0146] 11 main body [0147] 12 impact shield [0148] 13 seating section [0149] 14 back section [0150] 15 head restraint [0151] 16 first fastening means (child seat fastening means) [0152] 17 second fastening means (impact shield fastening means) [0153] 18 first part [0154] 19 second part [0155] 20 belt [0156] 21 belt tongue [0157] 22 belt guide [0158] 25 recess [0159] 26 third connection point [0160] 27 fourth connection point [0161] 28 wing [0162] 29 supporting surface [0163] 30 lateral section [0164] 32 seating area [0165] 33 support section [0166] 34 middle section [0167] 36 elevation [0168] 41 first impact shield rotation axis [0169] 42 second impact shield rotation axis [0170] 43 inclination [0171] 45 child seat rotation axis [0172] 50 projection [0173] 51 child rotation axis [0174] 60 impact shield rotation axis [0175] 100 vehicle seat