SEAT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH A DAMPING DEVICE

Abstract

Provided is a seat for infants and toddlers, which has at least one seat lower part and a seat back part, wherein a seat element and a backrest element are applied on the seat lower part and on the seat back part respectively, in a moveable manner and connected to one another. At least the backrest element is flexibly designed and is arranged at a distance from the seat back part, wherein the backrest element can be moved in the event of an influence of an impulse energy by the body of a child. At least one damping device allows a movement of the backrest element from a determined impulse energy, by which means the distance between the backrest element and the seat back part is reduced and a movement of the seat element occurs with respect to the seat lower part.

Claims

1. A seat for infants and toddlers, comprising at least a seat lower part and a seat back part, wherein a seat element at the seat lower part and a backrest element at the seat back part are mounted to be displaceable and connected together, wherein at least the backrest element is of flexible construction and arranged at a spacing from the seat back part, the backrest element is so arranged and constructed that the backrest element is displaceable under the action of impulse energy by the body of the child, at least one of the backrest element and the seat element is connected with at least one damping device and the at least one damping device allows displacement of the backrest element from a definable level of impulse energy, whereby the spacing between the backrest element and the seat back part is reduced and displacement of the seat element relative to the seat lower part takes place.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the backrest element when in a lying position is arranged at a spacing from the seat back part and the backrest element can be brought by way of a mechanism from a seating position, in which the backrest element has a small spacing from the seat back part, into the lying position.

3. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the seat lower part and the seat back part are components of a bucket seat of a baby carrier to which a carry yoke is pivotably attached at least at one end and the backrest element is coupled to the carry yoke of the seat, wherein the backrest element can be brought from the seating position to the lying position by way of displacement of the carry yoke from a first position to a second position.

4. The seat according to claim 3, wherein the seat element is coupled to at least one displacing element and is connected with the carry yoke and the connection of the seat element with the backrest element produces transfer of the backrest element from the seating position to the lying position.

5. The seat according to claim 3, wherein the carry yoke is pivotably mounted substantially at the centre-of-gravity axis (A) of the seat and is lockable at least in the vertical carrying setting.

6. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping device is coupled to the backrest element and the seat element in the region of a connection axis of the backrest element and the seat element.

7. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping device comprises at least one of hydraulic braking means, magnetic braking means and mechanical braking means.

8. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the damping device comprises at least one spring which counteracts displacement of the backrest element and the seat element, wherein the at least one spring is coupled to or connected with at least one of the backrest element, the seat element and the displacing element.

9. The seat according to claim 14, wherein the at least one damping device comprises a multi-disc brake coupled to or connected with the at least one of the backrest element, the seat element and the displacing element.

Description

[0051] Further advantages, features and design possibilities are evident from the following figure description of embodiments, which are not to be understood as restrictive.

[0052] In the drawings:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a seat in perspective view;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a seat with displacing elements in perspective view;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a section through the seat of FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a section through the seat of FIG. 2;

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a seat with a damping element, which is constructed as a tension spring, of a damping device; and

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic illustration of a seat with a damping element, which is constructed as a tension spring, of a damping device.

[0059] Parts and components provided in the figures with the same reference numerals substantially correspond with one another insofar as nothing to the contrary is indicated. In addition, description of components which are not of significance for understanding of the technical teaching disclosed herein is dispensed with.

[0060] FIGS. 1 to 6 show an embodiment for bucket seats, wherein the technical teaching described herein is not restricted thereto, but can also be used for child seats not constructed as bucket seats for infants and toddlers.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a child seat 10 without a cushion and a belt system, which serves for fixing an infant or toddler in the seat 10. In addition, the illustration of FIG. 1 does not show a connection of the seat 10 with a vehicle seat. A connection with a vehicle seat of a vehicle by way of a vehicle belt system or an ISOFIX coupling can be provided for the seat 10.

[0062] The seat 10 comprises two opposite side walls 14 and 16, a seat lower part 22 arranged between the side walls 14 and 16 and connected with the side walls 14 and 16, and a seat back part 24 arranged between the side walls 14 and 16 and connected with the side walls 14 and 16. The side walls 14 and 16, the seat lower part 22 and the seat back part 24 form a shell of the seat 10. A backrest element 20 is arranged at the seat back part 24. The backrest element 20 is connected at the upper end 28 thereof with the seat back part 24 by way of two suspension devices 46. The backrest element 20 is connected with the seat element 18 at the lower region 34 of the backrest element 20. The seat element 18 rests on the seat lower part 22. The seat element 18 has two protruding leg support regions 36. The support regions 36 serve the purpose of supporting the legs of a child. A connecting region 30 between the seat element 18 and the backrest element 20 is so constructed that when the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18 are brought, the support area, which is provided by the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18, for a child is increased or decreased. FIG. 1 shows the lying position, wherein the support region is increased by way of the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18. Moreover, the connecting region 30 is constructed to be reinforced so that this substantially cannot be deformed. By contrast, the backrest element 20 is made from a flexible material or constructed to be flexible so that the backrest element 20 can be moved in the direction of the seat back element 24 and in addition is deformable. For that purpose, the backrest element 20 is arranged at a spacing from the seat back part 24. The spacing between the seat back part 24 and the backrest element 20 in the lower region 34 of the backrest element 20 is at least 2 centimetres.

[0063] The seat 10 additionally comprises a carry yoke 12. The carry yoke 12 is substantially mounted at the centre-of-gravity axis A of the seat 10 and is pivotable about the centre-of-gravity axis A. In FIG. 1 the carry yoke 12 is disposed in the rear position (substantially horizontal setting) and is locked in this position by way of locking devices 38. The carry yoke 12 can be pivoted forwardly so that this is in a substantially vertical carrying setting. The carry yoke 12 can similarly be locked in this vertical carrying setting by way of the locking devices 38. The carry yoke 12 is coupled with displacing elements 26, which are not illustrated in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 2).

[0064] The displacing elements 26 are rotatably mounted by way of a shaft in openings 40 and have guide means guided in guide gates 42. In addition the displacing elements 26 are connected with the seat element 18. The displacing elements 26 can be pivoted about the centre-of-gravity axis A, the displacing elements 26 being connected with a multi-disc brake 48. The extent of pivotation of the displacing elements 26 is limited by way of the guide projections in the guide gates 42. The displacing elements 26 serve the purpose of bringing the seating element 18 and the backrest element 20 from the lying position, which is shown in FIG. 1, into a seating position, in which case for that purpose the seat element 18 is pushed into the seat 10 and the backrest element 20 is thereby pivoted about a notional line in the upper end 28 of the backrest element 20, the spacing of the backrest element 20 from the seat back part 24 in the back region 34 being reduced. The multi-disc brakes 48 are arranged in the cover, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, between the locking device 38 and the displacing element 26. Merely the shaft (rotor), which is connected with the multi-disc brake 48 and connected with the displacing element 26, is illustrated here. A part (stator) of the multi-disc brake 48 is fixedly connected with the seat 10, in which case the rotor (shaft) can be rotated only when there is action on the shaft of a specific required minimum torque which in the event of an accident is produced by way of the force acting through the child on the transmission elements 26. This force generates a moment on the transmission elements 26, which then seek to rotate about the centre-of-gravity axis A. The multi-disc brake 48 comprises, for example, stator magnets opposite the rotor magnets of the shaft. In a neutral setting, the unlike poles of the magnets of the stator and of the rotor are opposite. However, in order that the shaft can be rotated a minimum moment has to act on the shaft in order to turn the shaft, in which case like magnets of the rotor and the stator are opposite.

[0065] The multi-disc brakes 48 serve the purpose of allowing the displacement or a pivotation of the displacing elements 26 and thus pivotation of the seat element 18 and the backrest 20 only when a requisite minimum amount of energy acts on the seat 10 or a child received therein. The multi-disc brakes 48 brake the movement of the displacing elements 26 and at least partly absorb the energy occurring in the event of an accident. If the energy liberated in the event of an accident is small then this energy is not sufficient for the purpose of moving the child, who is received in the seat 10, by way of the seat element 18 and the backrest element 20 in the direction of the seat back part 24. If the energy liberated in the event of an accident exceeds the absorption capability of the multi-disc brakes 48 or if the multi-disc brakes 48 can absorb the liberated energy only in part a pivotation of the displacing elements 26, which ultimately leads to displacement of the seat element 18 and the backrest element 20, takes place. The displacing of the seat element 18 and the backrest element 20 in that case absorbs a part of the energy liberated in the event of an accident. The flexible backrest element 20 additionally absorbs a part of the energy liberated in the event of an accident or acting on the child, as a result of which high loads are not imposed on the child received in the seat 10.

[0066] The backrest element 20 consists of interconnected plastics material strips. The plastics material strips consist of a plastics material with a resilient characteristic. In addition, the connecting webs which connect the plastics material strips together consist of a plastics material with a resilient characteristic. The plastics material strips are arranged at a spacing from one another so that the thereby-formed structure forms a resilient base by virtue of the materials used and the arrangement thereof. The seat element 18 consists of a plastics material without a resilient characteristic and is of substantially inflexible construction. In addition, the side walls 14 and 16, the seat lower part 22, the seat back part 24 and the carry yoke 12 are made from a non-resilient plastics material.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a seat 10 with displacing elements 26, which are connected with the multi-disc brakes 48, in perspective view. The seat 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 substantially corresponds with the seat 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the illustration of FIG. 2 additionally shows a displacing element 26 and a shaft, which is coupled with a multi-disc brake 48. The shaft is in that case a part of the multi-disc brake 48. The displacing element 26 is arranged at the side wall 14 and coupled to the carry yoke 12. In further embodiments, the displacing element 26 can be coupled to the carry yoke 12 by way of the multi-disc brake 48. The opposite side wall 16 similarly comprises a displacing element 26, which is coupled to the carry yoke 12 and connected with the seat element 18. This displacing element 26 can be similarly coupled to the carry yoke 12 by way of a multi-disc brake 48. The displacing elements 26 have projections which are rotatably received in openings 44 of the seat element 18 (pivot axis B). If the carry yoke 12 is brought from the setting shown in FIG. 2 to a vertical setting then pivotation of the displacing elements 26 about the centre-of-gravity axis A in the direction of the seat back part 24 can take place, in which case the seat element 18 is pushed into the seat 10. For that purpose the multi-disc brakes 48 are so arranged and constructed that pivotation of the carry yoke 12 can be carried out and in addition braking of the pivotation of the displacing elements 26 is possible. At the same time, in the case of pivotation of the displacing elements 26 the spacing of the backrest element 20 from the seat back part 24 is reduced in the lower region 34.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a section through the seat 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the illustration without displacing element 26 and without multi-disc brake 48. FIG. 3 shows, just as FIG. 1, the lying setting, in which the carry yoke 12 is arranged in a pivoted, substantially horizontal position. In addition, the backrest element 20 is disposed at a spacing from the seat back part 24. In particular, the spacing of the backrest element 20 in the connecting region 30 as well as between the connecting region 30 in the lower region 34 of the backrest element 20 and the upper end 28 of the backrest element 20 is greater than in the upper end 28 of the backrest element 20, in which the backrest element 20 is connected with the seat 10.

[0069] The function of the seat 10 in the event of an accident is described in the following, wherein the seat 10 is so arranged in a vehicle that the viewing direction of the child received therein is oriented towards the back of the vehicle.

[0070] The back of the child substantially rests on the backrest element 20. The posterior and the legs of the child rest on the seat element 18, the posterior being received in, in particular, the reinforced connecting region 30. In the event of an accident the child is in the first instance pressed against the backrest element 20. The backrest element 20 then seeks to move rearwardly in the direction of the seat back part 24. By way of a coupling of the backrest element 20 to the seat element 18 the seat element 18 seeks to displace. In that case, the displacing elements 26 seek to turn about the centre-of-gravity axis A in clockwise sense. Turning of the displacing elements 26 and thus displacement of the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18 take place, however, only if the torque, which is exerted by way of the energy liberated in the event of an accident, on the shaft connected with the displacing element 26 is of such a magnitude that the braking effect of the multi-disc brake 18 is not sufficient to fully absorb the liberated energy. If the liberated energy exceeds the absorption capability of the multi-disc brake 48 the backrest element 20 then pivots about the upper end 28 and partly deforms. In addition, due to the displacement of the backrest element 20 the seat element 18 is pushed along the seat lower part in the direction of the seat back part 24 and into the seat 10. The accident energy which arises is absorbed by the multi-disc brake 48, the deformation of the backrest element 20 and the displacement of the backrest element 20 as well as the seat element 18. After the energy liberated by the accident has been absorbed, the backrest element 20 can by virtue of its flexible design move back into the starting setting, which is shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the seat element 18 is similarly displaced forwardly again, in which case the multi-disc brake 48 can even assist such a return.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a section through the seat 10 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 4 there is illustration of the displacing element 26, which is coupled to the carry yoke 12 and the multi-disc brake 48 and connected with the seat element 18. The illustration shown in FIG. 4 shows, just like the illustration shown in FIG. 3, the lying position of the seat 10. In a seating position the carry yoke 12 is brought upwardly in clockwise sense into a substantially vertical setting. In that regard, the displacing element 26 connected with the carry yoke 12 is pivoted downwardly. The pivotation of the displacing element 26 produces a displacement of the seat element 18. The seat element 18 is displaced in the seat 10 in the direction of the seat back part 24 along the seat lower part 22. Due to the displacement of the seat lower part 18, the backrest element 20 is similarly displaced. The backrest element 20 is additionally pivoted about a notional axis in the upper end 28, in which the case the spacing between the seat back part 24 and the backrest element 20 is reduced. Moreover, the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18 are so connected together that a part of the backrest element 20 is displaced along the seat element 18. In that regard, the support area of the seat 10, which is formed by the backrest element 20 and the seat element 18, is reduced.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows an alternative construction of a damping device for a seat 10. The damping device comprises tension springs 50, only one tension spring 50 being illustrated in FIG. 5. The tension spring 50 is connected at a first end 52 with a seat lower part 22 and at a second end 54 with the seat element 18. In order that the seat element 18 can be displaced, the energy acting for that purpose on the seat element 18 has to be of such a magnitude that the tension spring 50 is expanded. Depending on the tension spring 50 used, displacement of the seat element 18 and of the backrest element 20 takes place at different levels of energy. The seat 10 can therefore still also be used for a child when the child is older and thus heavier, in which case the severity of an accident at which a displacement takes place remains substantially the same.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a further alternative construction of a damping device for a seat 10. The damping device comprises tension springs 50, only one tension spring 50 being illustrated in FIG. 6. The tension spring 50 is arranged at a first end 52 with a wall part of the seat 10 in the region, by way of which a carry yoke (not illustrated) is coupled to the seat 10. The tension spring 50 is connected at a second end 54 with the backrest element 20. In order that the backrest element 20 can be displaced, the energy acting for that purpose on the backrest element 20 has to be of such a magnitude that the tension spring 50 is expanded. Depending on the tension spring 50 used, displacement of the seat element 18 and the backrest element 20 can take place at different levels of energy. The seat 10 can therefore also still be used by a child when the child is older and thus heavier, in which case the severity of an accident at which a displacement takes place remains substantially the same.

[0074] In further embodiments (not illustrated) use can be made not only of tension springs 50, as illustrated in FIG. 5, but also tension springs 50, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In addition, a combination of a multi-disc brake 48 with at least one tension spring 50 (FIG. 5 and/or FIG. 6) is provided in further embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0075] 10 seat

[0076] 12 carry yoke

[0077] 14 side wall

[0078] 16 side wall

[0079] 18 seat element

[0080] 20 backrest element

[0081] 22 seat lower part

[0082] 24 seat back part

[0083] 26 displacing element

[0084] 28 upper end

[0085] 30 connecting region

[0086] 32 opening

[0087] 34 lower region

[0088] 36 leg support region

[0089] 38 locking device

[0090] 40 opening

[0091] 42 guide gate

[0092] 44 opening

[0093] 46 suspension means

[0094] 48 multi-disc brake

[0095] 50 tension spring

[0096] 52 end

[0097] 54 end

[0098] A centre-of-gravity axis

[0099] B pivot axis