CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to a child safety seat for fastening to a vehicle seat, said child safety seat having a seat element, a backrest element, a first side element with a first inflatable air chamber, and a second side element with a second inflatable air chamber. The first side element is connected to a first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and a first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and the second side element is connected to a second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and a second longitudinal edge of the seat element. A first tensile element is connected to the first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and the first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and a second tensile element is connected to the second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and the second longitudinal edge of the seat element.

Claims

1. A child safety seat for fastening to a vehicle seat of a vehicle in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the child safety seat comprising a seat element, a backrest element, a first side element with a first inflatable air chamber, and a second side element with a second inflatable air chamber, wherein the first side element is connected to a first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and the second side element is connected to a second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a second longitudinal edge of the seat element, characterized in that a first tensile element is respectively connected to the first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the first longitudinal edge of the seat element and a second tensile element is respectively connected to the second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the second longitudinal edge of the seat element, wherein the first tensile element and the second tensile element are arranged in a pretensioned state by the first side element and the second side element.

2. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the first tensile element is respectively fastened to an upper end region of the first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a front end region of the first longitudinal edge of the seat element, wherein the second tensile element is respectively fastened to an upper end region of the second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a front end region of the second longitudinal edge of the seat element.

3. The child safety seat according to claim 1, further comprising a third tensile element is respectively connected to the first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and a fourth tensile element respectively connected to the second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the second longitudinal edge of the seat element.

4. The child safety seat according to claim 3, wherein a traction cable, a traction belt, or a chain is provided as one or more of the first tensile element, the second tensile element, the third tensile element, and the fourth tensile element.

5. The child safety seat according to claim 4, wherein the backrest element comprises an upper backrest part and a lower backrest part, wherein the upper backrest part is connected to the lower backrest part via an articulated connection.

6. The child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein the one end of the third tensile element is fastened to an upper end region of the first longitudinal edge of the lower backrest part, and the one end of the fourth tensile element is fastened to an upper end region of the second longitudinal edge of the lower backrest part, wherein the other end of the third tensile element is fastened preferably substantially in the center to the first longitudinal edge of the seat element and the other end of the fourth tensile element is fastened preferably substantially in the center to the second longitudinal edge of the seat element.

7. The child safety seat according to claim 6, wherein the seat element comprises a first through opening and a second through opening for guiding through a belt segment of a safety belt.

8. The child safety seat according to claim 7, wherein the seat element comprises a first deflection edge adjacent to the first through opening and a second deflection edge adjacent to the second through opening for the belt segment of the safety belt.

9. The child safety seat according to claim 8, wherein the first deflection edge of the seat element extends between the fastening points of the first tensile element and the third tensile element on the first longitudinal edge of the seat element, when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the seat element, wherein the second deflection edge of the seat element extends between the fastening points of the second tensile element and the fourth tensile element on the second longitudinal edge of the seat element, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the seat element.

10. The child safety seat according to claim 8, wherein the first deflection edge and/or the second deflection edge of the seat element is flattened.

11. The child safety seat according to claim 8, characterized in that the first through opening and/or the second through opening comprises a section widening in the direction away from a front edge of the seat element.

12. The child safety seat according to claim 8, wherein a belt clamp is provided for clamping at least one belt segment of the safety belt between the first through opening and the second through opening of the seat element when viewed in the transverse direction of the seat element.

13. The child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein the backrest element, in particular the lower backrest part of the backrest element is articulatedly connected to the seat element, preferably via a slide joint or a film hinge.

14. The child safety seat according to claim 3, wherein the first side element comprises on an inner side at least one first guide element for guiding the first tensile element and/or at least one second guide element for guiding the third tensile element and/or the second side element comprises on an inner side at least one third guide element for guiding the second tensile element and/or the second side element comprises on an inner side at least one fourth guide element for guiding the fourth tensile element.

15. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat element and/or the backrest element is manufactured substantially from a hard plastic material, in particular from polyamide or polypropylene, or from a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

16. The child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the first side element comprises a contact surface on a front face side for resting on a seat back of the vehicle seat in such a way that the upper end of the contact surface is arranged in the mounted state of the child safety seat at a distance of at least 170 mm to the lower end of the seat back when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the seat back.

17. A vehicle with a vehicle seat and with a child safety seat which is fixed to the vehicle seat with the aid of a belt segment of a safety belt, wherein the child safety seat designed according to claim comprises a seat element, a backrest element, a first side element with a first inflatable air chamber, and a second side element with a second inflatable air chamber, wherein the first side element is connected to a first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and the second side element is connected to a second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to a second longitudinal edge of the seat element, further comprising a first tensile element respectively connected to the first longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the first longitudinal edge of the seat element, and a second tensile element respectively connected to the second longitudinal edge of the backrest element and to the second longitudinal edge of the seat element, wherein the first tensile element and the second tensile element are arranged in a pretensioned state by the first side element and the second side element.

Description

[0030] The invention will subsequently be described in detail by way of one preferred exemplary embodiment. As shown in detail in:

[0031] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a child safety seat according to the invention, which has a seat element, a backrest element, and a first and a second side element in the inflated state;

[0032] FIG. 2 an exploded view of the child safety seat according to FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the child safety seat according to FIGS. 1, 2, wherein the arrangement of a safety belt is schematically depicted;

[0034] FIG. 4 a side view of the child safety seat according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in the mounted state on a vehicle seat, wherein one of the side elements is not drawn for a better overview;

[0035] FIG. 5 a perspective view of parts of the child safety seat according to FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0036] FIG. 6 another perspective view of the child safety seat according to FIGS. 1 to 5, wherein a child harness for securing a child in the child safety seat is schematically illustrated ; and

[0037] FIG. 7 the child safety seat according to FIGS. 1 to 6 from below, wherein a device for inflating the first and second side elements is schematically visible.

[0038] FIGS. 1, 2 show a child safety seat 1 for a child, which is represented by a dummy 2 in FIG. 3. Child safety seat 1 is provided for fastening to a vehicle seat 3 of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the vehicle (compare FIG. 4). Child safety seat 1 has a seat element 4 which supports the buttocks of the child during intended use of child safety seat 1. In addition, child safety seat 1 has a backrest element 5, with which the back and the head of the child are supported during intended use of child safety seat 1. Padding (not shown in the figures) may be arranged on backrest element 5 and seat element 4. Backrest element 5 and seat element 4 define a seat opening angle, which is preferably greater than 90?.

[0039] Child safety seat 1 has on the sides (in relation to the direction of travel of the vehicle) a first side element 6 with a first inflatable air chamber 7 and a second side element 8 with a second inflatable air chamber 9. In contrast, seat element 4 and backrest element 5 are each formed from a dimensionally stable, non-inflatable material. Seat element 4 and backrest element 5 are preferably manufactured substantially from a hard plastic material, in particular from polyamide or polypropylene.

[0040] First side element 6 is respectively connected to a first longitudinal edge 12 of backrest element 5 and to a first longitudinal edge 13 of seat element 4. Second side element 8 is respectively connected to a second longitudinal edge 14 of backrest element 5 and to a second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4. First longitudinal edge 12 and second longitudinal edge 14 of backrest element 5 extend laterally on backrest element 5 and are connected to each other via an upper transverse edge and a lower transverse edge of backrest element 5. Correspondingly, first longitudinal edge 13 and second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4 extend laterally on seat element 4 and are connected to each other via an upper transverse edge and a lower transverse edge of seat element 4. In the embodiment shown, clips 16, in which insertion sleeves 17 are accommodated, are applied on the inner side of first side element 6 and second side element 8. Clips 16 with insertion sleeves 17 are arranged in lateral recesses 18 of the backrest element and lateral recesses 19 of the seat element and are fixed there using retaining rods 20. However, first side element 6 and second side element 8 might naturally also be fastened to backrest element 5 and seat element 4 in numerous other ways.

[0041] As is clear from FIG. 1, backrest element 5 has a upper backrest part 21 and a lower backrest part 22. Upper backrest part 21 is connected to lower backrest part 22 via an articulated connection 23. To form articulated connection 23 between upper backrest part 21 and lower backrest part 22, at least one slip joint, in the depiction three slip joints 24, may be provided. Furthermore, lower backrest part 22 of backrest element 5 is articulatedly connected to seat element 4. For this purpose in the embodiment shown, three slip joints 24 are provided between lower backrest part 22 and seat element 4.

[0042] In the inflated state, child safety seat 1 is of a similar size to a conventional child safety seat. In the folded together state, however, child safety seat 1 may be stowed in a substantially more compact form in a trunk or in a closet.

[0043] As is clear from FIG. 1, a first tensile element 25 and a second tensile element 26 are provided for tensioning backrest element 5 with respect to seat element 4. The one end of first tensile or tension element 25 is fixed to first longitudinal edge 12 of backrest element 5 and the other end of first tensile or tension element 25 is fixed to first longitudinal edge 13 of seat element 4. The one end of second tensile or tension element 26 is fixed to second longitudinal edge 14 of backrest element 5 and the other end of second tensile or tension element 26 is fixed to second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4. In the embodiment shown, first tensile element 25 is respectively fastened to an upper end region of first longitudinal edge 12 of backrest element 5 and to a front end region of first longitudinal edge 13 of seat element 4. Second tensile element 26 is respectively fastened to an upper end region of second longitudinal edge 14 of backrest element 5 and to a front end region of second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4.

[0044] As is clear from FIG. 1, a third tensile or tension element 27 and a fourth tensile or tension element 28 are provided in the embodiment shown. The ends of third tensile element 27 are respectively connected to the first longitudinal edge of backrest element 5 and to the first longitudinal edge of seat element 4. The ends of fourth tensile element 28 are respectively connected to the second longitudinal edge of backrest element 5 and to the second longitudinal edge of seat element 4. In the embodiment shown, the one end of third tensile element 27 is fastened to an upper end region of first longitudinal edge 29 of lower backrest part 22 and the one end of fourth tensile element 28 is fastened to an upper end region of second longitudinal edge 30 of lower backrest part 22. The other end of third tensile element 27 is fastened substantially at the center to first longitudinal edge 13 of seat element 4 and the other end of fourth tensile element 28 is fastened substantially at the center to second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4.

[0045] First tensile element 25, second tensile element 26, third tensile element 27, and fourth tensile element 28 are arranged in a tensioned state by the arrangement of first and second side elements 6, 8 in their inflated use positions. In the embodiment shown, first tensile element 25, second tensile element 26, third tensile element 27, and fourth tensile element 28 are provided as traction cables.

[0046] First side element 6 has on its inner side at least one first guide element 31, two first guide elements 31 in the embodiment shown, for guiding first tensile element 25, and at least one second guide element 32, precisely one second guide element 32 in the embodiment shown, for guiding third tensile element 27 on the inner side of first side element 6. Correspondingly, second side element 8 has on its inner side at least one third guide element 33, two third guide elements 33 in the embodiment shown, for guiding second tensile element 26, and a fourth guide element 34, precisely one fourth guide element 34 in the embodiment shown, for guiding fourth tensile element 28 on the inner side of second side element 8.

[0047] As is clear from FIG. 1 (see, in particular, also FIG. 5), seat element 4 has a first through opening 35 and a second through opening 36 for guiding through a belt segment 37 of a seat belt (or safety belt) 38.

[0048] As is clear from FIGS. 3, 4, belt segment 37 in the embodiment shown is provided as a lap belt part 37a of a 3-point safety belt, which additionally has a shoulder belt part 39. Safety belt 38 additionally has a buckle tongue 40 at which lap belt part 37a transitions into shoulder belt part 39. Buckle tongue 40 may be detachably connected to a belt buckle 41 (schematically depicted in FIG. 3). A first deflection edge 42 is designed adjacent to first through opening 35, a second deflection edge 43 is designed adjacent to second through opening 36 for belt segment 37 of safety belt 38. First deflection edge 42 of seat element 4 extends between the fastening points of first and third tensile elements 44, 45 to first longitudinal edge 13 of seat element 4 when viewed in the longitudinal direction of seat element 4. Correspondingly, second deflection edge 43 of seat element 4 extends between the fastening points of second and fourth tensile elements 46, 47 to second longitudinal edge 15 of seat element 4 when viewed in the longitudinal direction of seat element 4. In the embodiment shown, first and second deflection edges 42, 43 of the seat element are flattened. Furthermore, first through opening 35 and second through opening 36 each have a section 49 that widens in the direction away from front edge 48 of the seat element.

[0049] As is clear from FIG. 1 (see in particular also FIG. 5), a belt clamp 50 for clamping at least one belt segment 37 of safety belt 38 is provided between first through opening 35 and second through opening 36 of seat element 4 when viewed in the transverse direction of seat element 4. Belt clamp 50 has a pivot lever 51 and a clamping element 52 so that belt segment 37 may be inserted into belt clamp 50 and clamped.

[0050] Belt 38 is guided through first through opening 35 and second through opening 36 and buckle tongue 40 is connected to belt buckle 41. By pulling on shoulder belt part 39, belt segment 37 (lap belt part) is tightened. If lap belt part 37a is tensioned, then shoulder belt part 39 is guided via lap belt part 37a. Belt clamp 50 is closed in the tensioned state of belt 38 so that belt 38 does not slip into the tensioning trapezoid which lap belt part 37a forms in conjunction with seat 1. By this means, it is reliably prevented that the connection between child safety seat 1 and vehicle seat 3 loosens during use.

[0051] As is clear from FIG. 4, first side element 6 and second side element 8 each have on the front face sides a contact surface 53 for resting on a seat back 54 of vehicle seat 3. In the intended use state of child safety seat 1, upper end 53a of contact surface 53 is arranged at a distance of at least 170 mm to the lower end 54a of seat back 54 when viewed in the longitudinal direction of seat back 54.

[0052] As is schematically clear from FIG. 6, child safety seat 1 has an integrated belt 55 with a belt buckle 56 which is arranged between the legs of the child. Belt buckle tongues 57 are snapped therein. Subsequently, belt 55 is pulled tight with a tension band 58 and fixed by means of a belt tensioner 59.

[0053] As is clear from FIG. 7, a device 63 is provided for inflating second air chamber 9, which is preferably arranged on the bottom of seat element 4. In the embodiment shown, device 63 has an inlet valve 10, via which filling gas may be supplied, an overpressure valve 11, a connecting unit 62 for gas-tight connection of inlet valve 10 and overpressure valve 11 to a hose connection 60, and a connecting piece 61 in order to bring the filling gas from hose connection 60 into second air chamber 9. A corresponding device may be provided for inflating first air chamber 7 (not shown).