Abstract:
A vehicular seat, comprising: a niche in a backrest of the vehicular seat, for placing therein a baby seat in a stowed state thereof; a baby seat, in which the size thereof enables placing thereof into the niche in a stowed state of the baby seat; a linear axle, for connecting the baby seat to the vehicular seat, and for allowing moving the baby seat away from the vehicular seat while connected to the vehicular seat; a rotational axle, for connecting the backrest of the baby seat to the seat rest of the baby seat, and enabling changing the angle therebetween; a first fastener for fixing the linear axle in the current situation thereof; and a second fastner for fixing the rotational axle in the current situation thereof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of vehicular seats. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicular seat, in which is embedded a baby seat. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many countries, the use of baby seats in a vehicle is mandatory by legislation, as this subject has been indicated as essential to the safety of an infant sitting in the vehicle. But, on the other hand, when the baby seat is not in use, the volume of the vehicle&#39;s cabin is reduced, and actually the unused baby seat occupies an adult seat. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a vehicular seat ( 10 ), comprising:
         a niche ( 14 ) in a backrest ( 12 ) of the vehicular seat ( 10 ), for placing therein a baby seat in a stowed state thereof;   a baby seat ( 20 ), the size thereof enabling placing thereof into the niche ( 14 ) in a stowed state of the baby seat ( 20 ), preferably such that a surface of the baby seat ( 20 ) is even with a surface of the backrest ( 12 ) of the vehicular seat ( 10 ), wherein the baby seat ( 20 ) has a backrest ( 24 ) and a seat rest ( 22 );   a linear axle ( 30 ), for connecting the baby seat ( 20 ) to the vehicular seat ( 10 ), and for allowing moving the baby seat ( 20 ) away from the vehicular seat ( 10 ) while connected to the vehicular seat ( 10 );   a rotational axle ( 28 ), for connecting the backrest ( 24 ) of the baby seat ( 20 ) to the seat rest ( 22 ) of the baby seat ( 20 ), and enabling changing the angle therebetween;   fixing means ( 48 ), for fixing the linear axle ( 30 ) in the current situation thereof;   fixing means ( 46 ), for fixing the rotational axle ( 28 ) in the current situation thereof;       

     thereby allowing storing the baby seat in a stowed state thereof into the vehicular seat, resulting in stowing the baby seat ( 20 ) in a vehicle thereof without using additional space of a cabin of the vehicle; and 
     enabling to adjust the angle between the backrest ( 24 ) of the baby seat, and the seat rest ( 22 ) of the baby seat. 
     The baby seat may further comprise safety belt(s) ( 32 ). 
     The baby seat may further comprise padding ( 34 ). 
     The padding may be adapted to limit the ability of an infant&#39;s head, head and feet to move from left to right and vice versa while sitting in the baby seat. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the baby seat comprises detachable additional padding ( 42 ) and connecting means ( 44 ) for connecting the additional padding ( 42 ) to the baby seat ( 20 ), thereby enabling using the baby seat ( 20 ) by infants of different size. 
     Preferably, the edges of the niche ( 14 ) are of about 5-10 cm from the edges of the vehicular seat ( 10 ). 
     The vehicular seat may be a front seat of a vehicle, as well as a back seat of a vehicle. 
     Preferably, the linear axle is a telescopic pole, preferably of two quadrangular segments. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the baby seat is adapted to be turned from a stowed state thereof to a use state thereof by the steps of:
         a. linearly pulling the baby seat out of the vehicular seat;   b. rotationally unfolding the baby seat;   c. adjusting a linear situation of the baby seat with reference to the vehicular seat;   d. adjusting an angle of a backrest of the baby seat with reference to a seat rest thereof;   e. eliminating linear movement of the baby seat with reference to the vehicular seat; and   f. eliminating rotational movement of a backrest of the baby seat with reference to a seat rest of the baby seat.       

     The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 to 4  schematically illustrate a vehicular back seat in which is installed a baby seat, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the baby seat in its stowed state; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the baby seat in its pulling state; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the baby seat in its unfolding state; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the baby seat in its adjusting state. 
         FIG. 5  is a focused view schematically illustrating fixing means for fixing the baby seat of  FIG. 1  in its current situation, to the vehicular seat. 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the vehicular seat of  FIG. 4 , in which an additional padding  42  has been placed on the baby seat  20 . 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  schematically illustrate a vehicular back seat in which is installed a baby seat, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The vehicular seat is generally marked herein by reference numeral  10 , while the baby seat is generally referred by reference numeral  20 . 
     Each of  FIGS. 1 to 4  schematically illustrates the baby seat in an operational state thereof, as follows: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the baby seat in its stowed state; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the baby seat in its pulling state; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the baby seat in its unfolding state; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the baby seat in its adjusting state. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the baby seat in its stowed state. The baby seat  20  is embedded in backrest  12  of vehicular seat  10  such that in the stowed state thereof, the surface of baby seat  20  is even with the surface of the backrest of the vehicular seat  10 . In addition, edges  26  of the baby seat are disposed near (about 5 to 10 cm) the edges of the backrest, thereby eliminating contact between edges  26  of the baby seat and the back of an adult sitting on this seat. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the baby seat in its pulling state, which is the first stage in placing the baby seat in a use state. A user pulls handle  40  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) in the direction illustrated by arrows  38 . The baby seat moves forward on a linear axle, which in this case is embodied as a telescopic pole  30 . 
     The term “linear axle” refers herein to a mechanism that provides linear movement of an object. A telescopic pole is a linear axle, as one edge thereof moves linearly with reference to the other edge thereof. Accordingly, the term “linear axis” refers herein to a linear moving course. 
     The baby seat is stowed inside a niche  14  of vehicular seat  10  in a folded state (of the baby seat). As such, a user (adult) must unfold the baby seat prior to use by an infant. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the baby seat in its unfolding state. 
     The baby seat comprises two major parts, a seat rest  22  and a backrest  24 , which are pivotally connected by axle  28 . Thus, baby seat  20  is foldable along axle  28 . Reference numeral  36  denotes a rotation course of seat rest  22  with reference to backrest  24 , when unfolding the baby seat  20 . 
     Also shown in this figure, the baby seat  20  comprises a padding  34 , which provides comfort to an infant sitting in the baby seat. Both the seat rest and the backrest are covered with padding. 
     It should be noted that at the edges of the baby seat, padding  34 ′ provides support for preventing the infant&#39;s back from shaking from left to right. In addition, head support  34 ″ and feet support  34 ″′ are used for the same purpose. 
     Safety belts  32  are used for securing an infant to the baby seat, thereby preventing the infant from being thrown forward during emergency braking. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the baby seat in its adjusting state. In this state, there are two degrees of freedom: linear (forward) degree of freedom, which is marked herein by arrow  38 , and rotational degree of freedom, which is marked herein by arrow  36 . The linear degree of freedom is provided by telescopic pole  30 , and the rotational degree of freedom is provided by axle  28 . 
     Thus, a user (adult) can adjust: (a) the distance of the baby seat from the backrest of vehicular seat  10 , (b) the angle between the seat rest of the baby seat, and the backrest thereof. Furthermore, the angle between the seat rest and the backrest of the baby seat  20  can be adjusted without changing the angle between the seat rest and the backrest of the vehicular seat  10 . Furthermore, the angle between the seat rest and the backrest of the vehicular seat  10  can be adjusted without changing the angle between the seat rest and the backrest of the baby seat  20 . 
       FIG. 5  is a focused view schematically illustrating fixing means for fixing the baby seat in the current situation, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     Knob nut  48  is used for securing segments  30 ′ and  30 ″ of the telescopic pole to each other, thereby eliminating the linear movement from the telescopic pole. 
     Knob nut  46  is used for securing support  50  (of axle  28 ) to backrest  24  of the baby seat, thereby eliminating the rotational freedom from backrest  24 . 
     It should be noted that in order to provide massive structure to the linear axle (telescopic pole), the segments of the telescopic pole are quadrangular. Also, the telescopic pole comprises only two segments, in order to allow fixing thereof to its current by a single screw (knob nut  46 ). 
     In a design of a vehicular seat according to embodiments of the present invention, the telescopic pole and its connection to the vehicular seat  10  should be able to resist in a car crash, preventing the baby seat from detaching from the vehicular seat. 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the vehicular seat of  FIG. 4 , in which an additional padding  42  has been placed on the baby seat  20 . The additional padding is designed to allow placing therein an infant of smaller size. Reference numeral  44  denotes attaching means for attaching the additional padding  42  to the baby seat  20 . 
     Of course, the fixing means illustrated herein are merely a simplified example, and they can be implemented in a much better way, enabling easier operation, better safety to an infant, and so on. 
     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
         numeral  10  denotes a vehicular seat;   numeral  12  denotes a backrest of vehicular seat  10 ;   numeral  14  denotes a niche in backrest  12  of the vehicular seat  10 , for placing therein a baby seat in a stowed state;   numeral  16  denotes a seat rest of vehicular seat  10 ;   numeral  20  denotes a baby seat;   numeral  22  denotes a seat rest of baby seat  20 ;   numeral  24  denotes a backrest of baby seat  20 ;   numeral  26  denotes an edge of baby seat  20 ;   numeral  28  denotes an axle, providing a rotational illustrated by axis  36 ;   numeral  30  denotes a telescopic pole, for providing linear axis  38 , as an example of a linear axle;   number  30 ′ denotes a first segment of pole  30 , and number  30 ″ denotes a second segment of telescopic pole  30 ;   numeral  32  denotes a safety belt;   numeral  34  denotes a padding;   numeral  34 ′ denotes a support of padding  34  for preventing an infant&#39;s back from shaking from left to right;   numeral  36  denotes a rotational axis/rotational degree of freedom, illustrated by an arrow;   numeral  34 ″ denotes a support of padding  34  for preventing an infant&#39;s feet from shaking from left to right;   numeral  38  denotes a linear axis/linear degree of freedom, illustrated by an arrow;   numeral  40  denotes a handle for pulling baby seat  20 ;   numeral  42  denotes an additional padding, for baby seat  20 ;   numeral  44  denotes means for attaching the additional padding  42  to baby seat  20 ;   numeral  46  denotes a knob nut, as an example of fixing means for eliminating a rotational movement;   numeral  48  denotes a knob nut, as an example of fixing means for eliminating linear movement; and   numeral  50  denotes an element that connects backrest  24  to seat rest  22  of the baby seat; it is used also as a support for axle  28 .       

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
     The following references are considered as the closest prior art: EP 0 348374, JP06-22061, US2001/0004162. 
     With reference to these publications, the present invention discloses a novel feature: an ability to change the angle between the backrest  24  and seat rest  22  of the baby seat  20  independently of the angle between the back rest  12  and seat rest  16  of the vehicle&#39;s seat  10 . This ability is obtained as a result of the ability to slide the baby&#39;s seat rest independently from the vehicle&#39;s seat rest along the linear axis  38  generated by segments  30 ′ and  30 ″ of the telescopic pole  30 . 
     The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.