Safety vehicle seat structure

A safety vehicle seat structure comprising a seat having a backrest and a seat portion. A support frame is secured to the seat and comprises a pair of spaced-apart vertical back support members each pivotally secured at their upper ends to a respective side of the backrest. Each vertical back support member has a lower end secured to a respective one of two horizontal supports located below the seat portion. At least one connecting member is secured to the seat portion forwardly of the back support members and extends therebelow to pivotally interconnect with a displaceable lever framework whereby actuation of the lever framework will cause displacement of the seat between two positions relative to the support frame. A belt attachment clamp is secured to the horizontal support members and adapted to receive and rigidly engage a portion of a retaining belt extending therethrough. A safety strap structure is also provided for immovably securing the seat and support frame to a rigid external structure and further provides shock absorbing means for damping the forward movement of a person's body when subjected to a shock.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
a. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a seat structure and more particularly to 
a safety vehicle seat structure for children and of the type normally 
utilized for attachment to an automobile seat. 
B. Description of Prior Art 
Various types of automobile seats for children are known. The majority of 
these seats are normally attached to the backrest of an automobile seat or 
else provided with a framework which is adapted to be wedged in the gap 
between the backrest and seat portion of an automobile seat. Further, it 
is known to attach the framework of such seats to the retaining safety 
belt which is normally provided on the seat of an automobile for 
engagement across the waist or laps of a person sitting on the automobile 
seat. 
All of the structures heretofore known do not, however, provide a seat 
which is rigidly attached to the framework of the vehicle whilst, at the 
same time, providing ample security to the child sitting in the seat. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
It is, therefore, a feature of the present invention to provide an improved 
safety vehicle seat structure which can be immovably secured to an 
automobile framework whilst positioned on the automobile seat and 
providing safe retention of a child sitting in the seat. 
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a safety 
automobile seat structure which is supported on a framework which is 
lockable in two positions whereby to cause displacement of the seat to 
assume two positions. 
It is a still further feature of the present invention to provide a safety 
vehicle seat structure having a belt attachment clamp secured to the 
support frame and adapted to receive and rigidly engage a retaining belt 
extending therethrough and secured to the vehicle frame structure. 
A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a safety 
vehicle seat structure incorporating a safety strap structure for 
immovably securing the seat and the support frame to a rigid vehicle 
structure, the safety strap structure further providing shock absorbing 
retention of a child sitting in the seat. 
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention 
provides a safety vehicle seat structure comprising a seat having a 
backrest and a seat portion. A support frame is secured to the seat and 
comprises a pair of spaced-apart vertical back support members each 
pivotally secured at their upper ends to a respective side of the 
backrest. Each vertical back support member has a lower end secured to a 
respective one of two horizontal supports located below the seat portion. 
At least one connecting member is secured to the seat portion forwardly of 
the back support members and extends therebelow to pivotally interconnect 
with a displaceable lever framework whereby actuation of the lever 
framework will cause displacement of the seat between two positions 
relative to the support frame. 
According to a further broad aspect, the present invention provides a 
safety seat structure comprising a seat having a backrest and a seat 
portion. A rigid support frame is secured to the seat and supports the 
seat above lower horizontal support members. A belt attachment clamp is 
secured to the horizontal support members and adapted to receive and 
rigidly engage a belt positioned therethrough and secured to a vehicle 
frame. 
From a still further broad aspect, the present invention provides a seat 
structure comprising a seat having a backrest and a seat portion. A 
support frame is provided for maintaining the seat elevated from a 
horizontal plane. A safety strap structure is provided for immovably 
securing the seat and support frame to a rigid external structure, the 
safety strap structure further providing shock absorbing retention of a 
child sitting in the seat.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, there 
is shown, generally at 10, the safety vehicle seat structure. The seat 
structure 10 comprises a seat 11 having a backrest 12 and a seat portion 
13. A support frame 14 is secured to the seat 11 and comprises a pair of 
spaced-apart vertical back support members 15 each pivotally attached at 
their upper ends 16 to a respective side of the backrest 12. Each of the 
vertical back support members 15 have a lower end 17 secured to a 
respective one of two horizontal support members 18 located below the seat 
portion 13. At least one connecting member 19 is secured to a protective 
side wall 20 of the seat portion 13 by suitable means such as rivets, 
screws or bolts 21. The connecting member 19 extends downwardly and 
forwardly of the seat portion 13 to pivotally interconnect at its lower 
end 22 with an actuable lever framework 23. 
The actuable lever framework consists of a generally U-shaped frame having 
two parallel end members 24 and an integrally formed interconnecting 
transverse member 25. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the lower end 22 of 
the connecting member 19 is pivotally secured to the free end of one of 
the end members 23. The end members 23 are each pivotally secured at 26 
and adjacent their interconnected end to a respective one of the 
horizontal supports 18. A locking clamp 27 is secured to one of the 
horizontal supports 18 and adapted to engage an associated one of the end 
members 24 when in either one of the two positions as illustrated 
respectively by FIGS. 1 and 2. 
As shown in FIG. 1, when the end members 24 are positioned rearwardly under 
the seat portion 13 of the seat 11, the seat 11 is in a vertical position. 
By disengaging the locking clamp 27 and retracting the end members 24 
forwardly to a position as shown in FIG. 2, the seat 11 is in an inclined 
or rest position. One of the end members 24 may be extended to constitute 
a lever arm 24'. 
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown that the upper 
end 16 of the vertical support members 15 are pivotally attached to a 
respective side wall 20 of the backrest 12 of the seat through a pivoting 
link 30 pivotally secured at one end 31 to an associated vertical support 
member 15 and pivotally secured at its other end 32 to the protective side 
wall 20 of the backrest 12. As can be seen, the protective side wall 20 is 
forwardly projecting from the backrest and seat portion whereby to provide 
protection of a child sitting in the seat. The side wall 20 has a portion 
thereof 33 which is of substantially channel cross section defining two 
spaced-apart walls 34, see FIG. 3. The link 30 is pivotally secured in a 
channel bracket 35 which is secured between the spaced-apart walls 34 
whereby to provide a rigid pivotal connection at the end 32 of the link 30 
with the set 11. The channel bracket 35 is secured by suitable means such 
as bolts or rivets extending through the two walls 34 and the side wall 
35' of the bracket 35. A hinge pin 36 extends through the bracket 35 and 
the link 30 whereby to provide the pivotal connection. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the set 11 is formed as an integrally molded 
part made of moldable material such as plastic material or other suitable 
material. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the side wall 20 of the seat adjacent 
the seat portion 13 may be provided with one or more pairs of holes 27 
whereby to provide alternate connections of the connecting member 19 to 
position the seat at other angles relative to the support frame 14. 
Further, the connecting member 19 may be secured to the seat at another 
position, for example, under the seat or there may be provided two such 
connecting members 19 on each side of the seat 11. Still further, the 
actuable lever framework 23 may be constructed differently with the lever 
arm 24' formed with the end member 24 to which the connecting member is 
pivotally secured. The locking clamp 27 would also be provided on the same 
side of the support frame 14 as the end member 24 to which the locking 
clamp is secured. Furthermore, the seat may be molded with reinforcing 
ribs 28 formed integrally therewith and extending transversely across the 
seat portion 13 and the backrest 12. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, there is shown the construction of a 
belt attachment clamp 40 secured between the horizontal support members 18 
and more particularly, to cross members 41 bridging the horizontal support 
members 18 and secured to a corner angle bracket 42 interconnecting each 
vertical back support member 15 to its respective horizontal support 
member 18 to provide a rigid support frame. The belt attachment clamp 40 
is secured substantially centrally between the horizontal support members 
18 although other convenient locations for such clamp may be provided as 
long as it fulfills its intended purpose, that being to clamp a retaining 
belt 43 to the support frame 14. The belt 43 is normally provided with the 
seats of automobiles, and adapted to extend over the waist or laps of a 
person sitting on the automobile seat. 
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, there is shown in detail the 
construction of the belt attachment clamp 40. The clamp 40 comprises a 
base channel member 44 having two parallel side walls 45 and a hook member 
46 protruding at one end of the base channel 44 and extending above the 
parallel side walls 45 and terminating into an outwardly curved or hook 
end 47. A belt wedge element 48 is pivotally secured at one of its ends to 
the other end of the base channel 44 between end projections 49 of the 
side walls 45. The wedge element 48 is comprised of two parallel walls 50, 
substantially triangular in surface area, and defining belt clamping lower 
edges 51 adapted to be positioned in the channel member 44 between the 
side walls 45. A clamp lever plate 52 is pivotally secured to the free end 
of the wedge element 48, adjacent the opposite edge to the belt clamping 
edges 51. The clamp lever plate 52 is provided with an attaching loop 53 
which is pivotally retained in the plate 52 and adapted to engage with the 
hook end 47 of the hook member 46 whereby to rigidly retain the wedge 
element 48 in the base channel 44 with the clamp lever thereover, as shown 
in FIG. 1. 
As shown in FIG. 1, with the attaching loop 53 engaging with the hook 
member 46 and the lever plate 52 clamped downwardly over the channel 
member 44, a very tight connecton is provided between the lever plate 52 
and the hook member 47 as the attaching loop 53 is slightly inset, thus 
applying tension on the hook member 47 to rigidly secure a porton of a 
retaining belt 43, positioned across the two parallel side walls 45 of the 
base channel 44, under the wedge element 48. Thus, the support frame 14 
may be rigidly attached to a vehicle seat and the vehicle framework by 
means of the retaining safety belts 43 which are commonly provided with 
such vehicles. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, there is shown a safety strap 
structure for immovably securing the seat 11 and support frame 14 to a 
rigid external structure (not shown). The safety strap structure further 
provides shock absorbing retention of the person sitting in the seat 11 
upon forward movement of that person relative to the seat and when 
exerting a predetermined pressure against certain ones of the straps of 
the structure. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the safety strap structure 
comprises two shoulder straps 60 constructed of rigid strapping material 
such as utilized for safety belts normally provided in automobiles. The 
shoulder straps 60 are provided with shock absorbing expandable means 61 
constituted by a section of each shoulder strap 60 being folded in 
abutment and aligned relationship with each other and secured along this 
section by a plurality of spaced-apart transverse rows of stitches 62. 
Upon application of a predetermined force along the shoulder straps 60, 
between the shock absorbing section 61, the rows of stitches will break in 
sequential order, in the direction from row 62' to row 62", thus 
permitting the person in the seat to move gradually forward to absorb the 
shock to which it is subjected at the time of impact of the vehicle. 
The shoulder straps 60 are guided over a respective shoulder of the person 
sitting in the seat by means of guide apertures 63 provided on each side 
in the upper part of the backrest 12. As shown in FIG. 5, there may be 
provided a plurality of aligned pairs of apertures 63 whereby to 
accommodate children of varying sizes. Normally, this type seat is 
utilized for seating young children and thus the spacing between the rows 
of guide apertures is determined by the size range of such children. 
Further, the shock absorbing sections 61 are preferably, although not 
exclusively, provided in the portion of the shoulder straps 60 extending 
rearwardly of the backrest 12 whereby not to interfere with the person 
sitting in the seat. 
As shown in FIG. 5, each end of the shoulder straps 60 are attached to a 
strap connector 64 and 65, respectively. The upper end of the straps 60 
are permanently secured to connector 64. An adjustable attachment strap 66 
is also connected to connector 64 and has an attachment clamp 67 at one 
end thereof for securement to the framework of a vehicle, whilst the other 
end of the strap 66 is secured to the connector 64 by a hook plate member 
68 providing rigid retention of the strap 66 between the attachment clamp 
67 and the connector 64. The strap connector 64 is further attached to the 
backrest 12 of the seat 11 by an adjustable seat attachment strap 69 
secured between the strap connector 64 and the backrest 12. A portion of 
the free end of the attachment strap 69 is passed through an aperture (not 
shown) located substantially centrally between a pair of apertures 63 in 
the upper end of the backrest 12 and is engaged with the backrest by an 
S-shaped bracket 70 which positively engages the strap 66 and prevents it 
from being pulled back through the aperture. Thus, the seat 11 is rigidly 
anchored to the vehicle structure via the strap 69, the connector 64, the 
strap 66 and the attachment clamp 67. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7a and 7b, there is shown the construction of 
the metal hook plate member 68. The plate member 68 has a hook plate 80 
having flat wall portion 80' and a hook flange 81 at one end thereof 
securable within a slot 82 provided in the strap connector 64. An aperture 
83 is provided through the plate 80 for receiving the strap 66 
therethrough. A cover plate 84 having a top wall 85 and transverse side 
walls 86 is secured in juxtaposition with the flat wall 80'. A vertical 
groove 87 is provided in the forward portion of each side wall 86 and 
receives and engages with a pin projection 88, formed in the sides of the 
wall portion 80', whereby the cover plate 84 and hook plate 80 may secure 
a portion of the strap 66 associated therewith. A retention member 80" 
also passes through and resiliently engages with the end walls of a 
retention aperture 85' provided in the top wall 85 of the plate 84 to 
retain the plate 84 over the plate 80. A slot 89 is further provided 
adjacent an edge of the top wall 85 of plate 84 for registry with a 
portion of the aperture 83 whereby the securing strap 66 may be clamped to 
the hook plate 80 by passing the strap 66 below the hook plate 80, through 
the aperture 83 and then over the leading edge 84' of the cover plate 84 
into the slot 89 and then back through the aperture 83. The attachment 
clamp 67 at the securing end of the strap 66 is fastened rearwardly of the 
hook plate member 68 with both portions of the strap 66 in juxtaposition 
under the plate 80. Thus, the strap 66 will be positively clamped at its 
portion extending through the aperture 83 and slot 89 and between the slot 
89 and the rear edge 83' of the aperture 83. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, it is seen that the lower end of the shoulder 
straps 60 is secured to a further strap connector 65, as above-mentioned. 
The connector 65 is formed of metal and consists of two identical L-shaped 
connector plates 90 having a vertical arm 91 and a transverse horizontal 
arm 92 formed integrally therewith and extending from an end of the arm 
91. A belt receiving slot 93 is formed longitudinally in the arm 91. A 
further belt receiving slot 94 is also formed longitudinally adjacent the 
upper edge 96 of the arm 92. A further slot 95 is provided in the arm 92 
below the slot 94. As shown, the lower end of each shoulder strap 60 is 
adjustably secured in the slot 94 of a respective one of the L-shaped 
connector plates. The adjustable buckles 74 provide adjustment of the 
length of the shoulder straps 60 and retention in the slots 94. 
A further adjustable belt 77 extends from one of the slots 93 and 
permanently secured thereto. The free end of the belt 77 extends through a 
respective one of two aligned slots 76 each provided in a respective side 
wall 20 of the seat 11 adjacent the seat portion 13 and passes under the 
seat 13 through the other slot 76, into the slot 93 of the other connector 
plate 90, and back through the said other slot 76. The free end of the 
belt 77 is then adjustably secured to the portion of itself by means of an 
adjustable buckle 78. A further strap 75 is looped at one end 75' about 
the strap 77 under the seat 11 and passes through a slot 76" centrally 
located adjacent the front edge of the seat 13. A securing tab 76 is 
provided at the other end of the strap 75. The tab 76 secured the 
connector plates 90 together by juxtaposing both slots 95 with each arm 91 
positioned outwardly, as shown in FIG. 5. The tab is passed through both 
aligned slots 95 and secured. Thus, a person sitting in the seat is 
rigidly held therein by means of shoudler straps 60 extending 
substantially downwardly in a V-configuration down to the connector 65. A 
waist or lap belt 77 then extends across the lap or waist of the person 
and securing strap 75 extends between the legs of the person. Thus, the 
lower part of the person's body is rigidly held and it can be seen that, 
on impact, the upper part of the body of the person will move slightly 
forward applying tension along the shoulder straps 60 causing the rows of 
stitches 62 in the shock absorbing section 61 to break and thus providing 
releasable retention of the person's upper body portion whereby to dampen 
the shock on impact. 
The assembly and operation of the safety seat structure as hereinabove 
described will now be explained. The seat support frame 14 is rigidly held 
in the desired position by operating the lever framework 23 as previously 
described. The support frame is then positioned on an automobile seat and 
secured to the seat by the safety retaining belt 43 which is normally 
provided for engagement across the lap of a person sitting in the 
automobile seat. This strap 43 is engaged by the belt attachment clamp 40 
as previously described. Thus, the bottom rearward portion of the support 
frame 14 is rigidly retained on the seat and to the vehicle structure as 
the belt 43 is attached thereto. The upper portion of the backrest 12 of 
the seat 11 is then secured to a convenient part of the vehicle structure. 
If the seat 11 is to be secured on the back seat of an automobile, the 
attachment clamp 67 at the end of the strap 66 is secured to the framework 
rearwardly of the backrest of the automobile seat below the rear 
windshield. 
The connector plates 90 of connector 65 are disconnected to permit the 
person to be seated in the seat 11. The shoulder straps 60 and the further 
adjustable belt 77 are then secured tautly by their respective adjustable 
buckles whereby the person is comfortably seated and held in the seat 11. 
If the automobile to which the seat 11 is secured is involved in an 
accident sufficient to cause an impact, the seat 11 will not move 
forwardly on impact as it is secured to the vehicle framework. However, 
the person sitting in the seat will be subjected to a forward momentum 
caused by this impact and will apply a tension along the longitudinal axis 
of the shoulder straps 60. If this tension exceeds a predetermined force, 
it will cause the rows of stitches 62 in the shock absorbing extension 61 
to break in a sequential order, from stitches 62' to stitches 62", causing 
the forward movement of the person's body to be arrested gradually within 
a predetermined displacement range whereby to provide shock absorbing 
retention of the body.