Abstract:
A vehicle-seat mounting system, for securing a child seat in a vehicle, including a collapsible vehicle seat comprising a vehicle seat back configured to be movably connected to a vehicle-seat base. The system also includes a vehicle-seat-back securing structure being connected to, or part of, a rear of the vehicle seat back. The vehicle-seat-back securing structure is configured and arranged at the rear of the vehicle seat back to mate securely with child-seat securing structure corresponding in size and shape to the vehicle-seat-back securing structure. In various embodiments, the technology includes (i) parts of the vehicle seat, such as a kit including the vehicle-seat-back securing structure, (ii) the child seat, or (iii) parts thereof.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle seats and, more particularly, to a flexible and convenient vehicle seats configured to mate securely with specially configured infant seats. The vehicle-seat system can be referred to as a child-seat mounting system, as in the title above, as it is for mounting a child seat therein. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Modern child car seats are safer than prior models, due in large part to improved structure and materials. 
         [0003]    Many seats are also easier to use than prior models, by being easier to install, secure the child within, and remove the seat, for instance. 
         [0004]    Traditional seats and seat-mounting systems, while more reliable than their predecessors, present challenges. One is that, depending on vehicle design, it is often difficult to use the rear passenger-seating area selectively, at times, for seating an adult or older child and, at other times, for using a child seat. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present disclosure relates to a vehicle-seat mounting system allowing easy interchange between using a seating area in a rear of a vehicle for seating an adult or older child and mounting an infant or child seat. 
         [0006]    The system includes one or more securing components mounted on a back of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat back is configured to allow a user to fold the vehicle seat back from an upright position, forward, onto a base or cushion of the vehicle seat, moving the securing component on the seat back to an upward-facing position. With the vehicle seat in this folded position, the securing component is arranged to receive and releasable yet securely connect to a specially configured child seat. 
         [0007]    In various embodiments, the securing component(s) includes one or more rails or slots. And the specially configured child seat includes corresponding securing structure, configured to mate with the securing components of the vehicle seat back. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the securing component(s), of the child seat and/or vehicle seat, include a locking component configured and arranged at the back of the vehicle seat to connect to a mating locking structure of the infant or child car seat. 
         [0009]    In various embodiments, with the child seat connected to a back of the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat can be moved between a collapsed position, in which the child seat can be used, and an upright, or open position, in which the child seat is not used and the vehicle seat can be used by an adult or older child, without disconnecting the child seat from the vehicle seat. 
         [0010]    Other aspects of the present technology will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first example child-seat mounting apparatus at a back of a vehicle seat arranged in an open, adult-seating, position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates the child-seat mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a closed, folded position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement of  FIG. 2 , with the child seat being connected to the child-seat mounting apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , with the child seat connected to the child-seat mounting apparatus, and a child secured therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , having at least one additional cargo-securing feature. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized, such as to show details of particular components. In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    I. Introduction 
         [0018]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model, or pattern. 
         [0019]    References herein to how a feature is arranged can refer to, but are not limited to, how the features is positioned with respect to other features. References herein to how a feature is configured can refer to, but are not limited to, how the feature is sized, shaped, and/or material of the feature. For simplicity, the term configured can be used to refer to both the configuration and arrangement described above in this paragraph. 
         [0020]    Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    While the present technology is described primarily in connection with automobiles, the technology is not limited to automobiles. The concepts can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as in connection with aircraft and marine craft. 
         [0022]    II. Open Vehicle Seat with Child-Seat Mounting Apparatus— FIG. 1   
         [0023]    Now turning to the figures, and more particularly to the first figure,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first example foldable, or collapsible vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  for use in a vehicle  101 . The apparatus  100  is positioned at a rear of a back  102  of a vehicle seat  104 . 
         [0024]    The vehicle seat  104  shown is a second- or subsequent-row seat of the vehicle  101 . The vehicle seat  104  is shown arranged in an open position in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    As all terms herein, the open seat position can be referred to by other descriptive terms, such as upright position or adult-seating position. 
         [0026]    The vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  includes one or more child-seat mounting components  110  as part of, or connected to, the vehicle seat  104 . 
         [0027]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , the child-seat mounting components  110  include one or more vehicle-seat alignment structures  112 ,  114  and/or an anchoring structure  116 . The anchoring structure  116  is shown by way of example being positioned lower on the vehicle seat back  102  than the vehicle-seat alignment structures  112 ,  114 . 
         [0028]    The alignment structure(s)  112 ,  114  can be referred to by other terms, such as rails, slots, bars, elongated anchors, combinations of these, the like, or other. 
         [0029]    The vehicle-seat mounting components  110 —e.g.,  112 ,  114 ,  116 —are configured (e.g., sized and shaped) and arranged (e.g., positioned) to engage with corresponding features of the child seat. The child seat is indicated by reference numeral  300  in  FIG. 3 , and example corresponding child-seat securing features thereof are indicated there by numerals  312 ,  314 ,  316 , corresponding to the vehicle-seat mounting components  112 ,  114 ,  116 . 
         [0030]    In a contemplated embodiment (not shown in detail), the apparatus  100  includes a single alignment structure, such as a centrally positioned rail or slot configured to engage with a single positioned slot or rail positioned on a bottom of the child seat. 
         [0031]    In a contemplated embodiment, the mounting components  110  are configured, or connected or connectable to protecting parts (not shown), to limit unwanted interference to any aft passengers or objects when the vehicle seat  104  is upright. The alignment structures  112  can be formed with rounded edges, for instance, and/or of a material, such as a strong plastic, that is less likely to interfere with the aft passengers or objects. The anchoring structure  116  can be largely embedded into the rear of the vehicle seat back  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]    In another contemplated embodiment, the child-seating apparatus  100  includes protecting parts, such as one or more adjustable (e.g., selectively removable/attachable) covers—embodiment not shown in detail. The covers are in some embodiments configured and movably connected to the vehicle seat back so as to be readily or easily moved by a user or automated equipment—e.g., mechanical actuator that a user or vehicle computer or circuit can control at the user&#39;s prompting, such as by button. Each cover if movable from a covering position to an exposed position, by which the relevant mounting component(s)  100  is covered and uncovered, respectively. The covers could be configured to be easily secured to and then removed from, or otherwise moved with respect to, the alignment structures  112 ,  114 . Each cover could be configured to be rotated, slide, hingedly moved, e.g., to/from a withdrawn or non-covering, or non-blocking, position, for instance. The cover can be, for instance, moved to be positioned fully or more beneath a surface of the rear of the seat back  102 , thereby exposing more of the alignment structure  112  or  114  for use then to alight and/or secure the child seat (child seat shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each cover can be temporarily lockable in various positions—e.g., covering and non-covering—to avoid unwanted cover movement. For instance, the cover can include protrusions or dimples arranged to engage a frame when the cover is in one or more cover positions, to keep the cover in the selected position—e.g., covering position or non-covering position. 
         [0033]    III. Collapsed Vehicle Seat with Child-Seat Mounting Apparatus— FIG. 2   
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  on the vehicle seat  104  moved to a collapsed position. The position can be referred to by other terms, such as closed position or folded position. 
         [0035]    With the vehicle seat  104  collapsed, the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  is generally facing upward. In this position, the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  is ready to receive the child seat, shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0036]    As shown best in  FIG. 2 , the alighting structure(s)  112 ,  114  can include engaging parts  200 . The engaging parts  200  can include one or more alignment-structure protrusions  202  and/or one or more alignment-structure depressions or recessions  204  (or depression, recess, void, etc.) configured and arranged to engage corresponding child-seat engaging parts (not shown). The child seat  300  can include one or more corresponding child-seat recesses and/or one or more corresponding child-seat protrusions, for example. 
         [0037]    IV. Child-Seat Installation— FIG. 3   
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement of  FIG. 2 , with a child seat  300  being connected to the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100 . The two are connected by, e.g., alignment structure(s)  112 ,  114  and anchoring structure  116  described and shown. 
         [0039]    As mentioned, the child-seat mounting components  110 —e.g.,  112 ,  114 ,  116 —are configured (e.g., sized and shaped) and arranged (e.g., positioned) to engage with corresponding securing features of the child seat. The child seat is indicated by reference numeral  300  in  FIG. 3 , and example corresponding securing features thereof are indicated in  FIG. 3  by numerals  312 ,  314 ,  316 . 
         [0040]    In various embodiments, the child-seat securing feature  316  is configured and arranged to engage the anchoring structure  116  of the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100 . The child-seat securing feature  316  can be, or include, a tether, a hook, a clasp, strap, etc. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the child-seat securing feature  316  extends, as shown in  FIG. 3 , from the anchoring structure  116 , into or beneath a body of the seat  300 , toward a position whereat a user can easily adjust the securing feature  316 , such as toward and out of a rear, or head  301  of the child seat  300 . 
         [0042]    The child-seat securing feature  316  can be movably connected to the child seat  300 , such as to allow a user to move the feature  316 , using a handle—e.g., extending from the rear  301  of the seat  300 —to and/or from a secured position wherein the child seat  300  is locked to the vehicle seat  104  by way of the anchoring structure  116 . 
         [0043]    The child-seat alignment components  314 ,  316  are shown in  FIG. 3  engaging the corresponding vehicle-seat alignment structures  112 ,  114 . The engagement provides benefits including securing the child seat  300  from moving during use, including securing the child seat from moving laterally, fore/aft, lifting up, and from rotating. 
         [0044]    In various embodiments, the engagement parts  202 ,  204  ( FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle-seat alignment structures  112 ,  114  are configured to further secure the connected child seat from moving in these manners, and from moving fore or aft. 
         [0045]    As mentioned, in various embodiments, after the child seat  300  is connected to a rear of the back  102  of the vehicle seat  104 , the vehicle seat  104  can be moved between the collapsed position ( FIG. 3 ), in which the child seat  300  can be used to secure a child (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and the upright, or open position, in which the child seat is not used to hold a child and the vehicle seat  104  can be used by an adult or older child, without disconnecting the child seat  300  from the vehicle seat  104 . 
         [0046]    V. Child Seat Secured in Vehicle and Holding Child— FIG. 4   
         [0047]      FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , with the child seat  300  connected to the child-seat mounting apparatus, and a child positioned in the secured child seat  300 . 
         [0048]    The view shows that the child seat  300  may include padding, arm rests, etc., for the comfort and possibly also securement and safety of the child. 
         [0049]    VI. Vehicle-Seat Upright with Securing Feature— FIG. 5   
         [0050]      FIG. 5  illustrates the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 , having at least one cargo-securing feature  500 . 
         [0051]    The cargo-securing feature  500  is connected to, or a part of, the vehicle-seat mounting apparatus  100 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the cargo-securing feature  500  is shown connected to the vehicle-seat alignment structures  112 ,  114 . 
         [0052]    In a contemplated embodiment, cargo can be secured to the mounting apparatus  100  without use of such additional features  500 . 
         [0053]    The cargo-securing feature  500  can have any of a wide variety of forms without departing from the scope of the present technology. The cargo-securing feature  500  can include one or more straps  502 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , for instance. 
         [0054]    In various embodiments, the straps  502 ,  504  can connect to the alignment structure(s)  112 ,  114 , such as by engaging the protrusions  202 , the recessions  204 , and/or a body  508  of the alignment structure(s)  110  ( 112 ,  114 ,  116 ), as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0055]    In one implementation, the cargo-securing feature  500  includes one or more commercially available cargo straps. The rails  112 ,  114  can be considered tie down points for such features  500 . 
         [0056]    In a contemplated embodiment, the cargo-securing feature  500  includes or forms a pocket. 
         [0057]    The cargo-securing feature  500  is configured, in various embodiments, to be readily removable. In particular implementations, the child seat  300  cannot be connected to the mounting apparatus until the cargo-securing feature  500  is removed or moved to and non-obstructing position. 
         [0058]    VII. Additional Features 
         [0059]    Many of the features and embodiments of the present technology are described above. The present section restates some of those and references some others. 
         [0060]    In various embodiments, the present technology, the vehicle seat, when collapsed, creates a generally flat load floor, configured with connecting structure—e.g., rails—so that the child seat can be affixed to the back of the vehicle seat. 
         [0061]    The connecting structure of the vehicle seat and the child seat are configured in various embodiments so that the child seat can be easily and readily connected to—e.g., snapped, locked, buckled, and/or tethered to—the back of the vehicle seat, and easily and readily removed—e.g., unsnapped, unlocked, unbuckled, and/or untethered—therefrom. 
         [0062]    VIII. Select Benefits of the Present Technology 
         [0063]    Many of the benefits and advantages of the present technology are described above. The present section restates some of those and references some others. The benefits described are not exhaustive of the benefits of the present technology. 
         [0064]    The technology enables easy connection and disconnection of a special configured child seat  104  to/from the vehicle seat  104 . 
         [0065]    Great convenience is provided by described embodiments in which, after the child seat  300  is connected to rear of the back  102  of the vehicle seat  104 , the vehicle seat  104  can be moved between (i) the closed or collapsed position ( FIG. 3 ), in which the child seat  300  can be used to secure a child ( FIG. 4 ), and, without disconnecting the child seat  300  from the vehicle seat  104 , (ii) the upright, or open position, in which the child seat  300  is not used to hold the child and the vehicle seat  104  can be used by an adult or older child. 
         [0066]    Conveniences include time and energy savings for users, including busy parents. Time and energy is saved by obviating need to disconnect the child car seat  300  from the vehicle seat  104  when it is desired to use the vehicle seat  104  for adult or older-child seating, for instance. 
         [0067]    IX. Conclusion 
         [0068]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. 
         [0069]    The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. 
         [0070]    Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.