ADJUSTABLE BOOSTER SEAT FOR JUVENILE AUTO PASSENGERS

Abstract: The invention relates to a booster seat for juvenile auto passengers. The booster seat includes an invertible booster cushion (1) with a double sided seating plane (2) located so that different seating heights are obtained depending on the lo­ cation of the cushion (1). The seat can also include a back rest (5), the height of which also is adjustable.

Description: This invention relates to a booster seat, which makes it possible for children to use the ordinary automobile seat belts intended for adult passengers. Booster seats have been used since several years to adapt the webbing of the automobile seat belt to a child passenger. Those booster seats have included booster cushions provided with straps and guides or adjustable loops for adaptation of the webbing to the child user. The earlier booster seats have all been formed to make one adaptation of the webbing irrespective of the size of the child, although the adaptation can differ between different booster seats. As these booster seats are used by children from about 3 years age to about 12 years age, the size of the child user would differ substantially during these years, and consequently the adaptation of the webbing would not be the best during all this time. The object of this invention is to provide a booster seat by means of which it is possible to adjust the adaptation of the webbing depending on the size of the child user. The object of the invention has been obtained by a booster seat in accordance with claim 1. The invention will now be described in form of a non-limiting embodiment, shown on the appended drawings. In Fig. 1 is shown two views of a booster seat according to the invention, to the left showing the seat adapted for a larger child than the seat shown to the right, and in Fig. 2 showing an exploded view of the booster seat according to the invention. The booster seat shown includes a booster cushion 1 with a double sided seating plane 2 and side portions 3. The side portions 3 also include safety belt guides 4. The booster cushion 1 is so formed that it can be turned upside-down, and be used in both locations. The seating plane 2 is not located on the middle of the height of the side portions 3, but displaced towards one of the horizontal ends of the side portions. By this arrangement different seat levels can be obtained by locating the booster cushion 1 in one or the other location. The safety belt guides 4 are formed on both lateral sides of the booster cushion 1 and also on both upper and lower sides of the cushion to be able to act as guides for the ordinary safety belt of an automobile in both locations of the booster cushion 1. As shown on the drawings the booster seat can also include a back rest 5. The back rest 5 is provided with a head rest 6, the lower side part of which is formed to also act as a guide means for the shoulder belt of the ordinary automobile three point safety belt. The back rest 5 can also, as shown on the drawings, be provided with detachable and adjustable side supports 7, to give side support to a child sitting on the seat. To make it possible to turn the booster cushion 1 upside down the back rest 5 is connected to the booster cushion 1 by means of grip screw means 8 penetrating side beams of the back rest and secured in threaded sockets 9 in the back part of the booster cushion 1. The sockets 9 are so located in the booster cushion 1 that they are at the bottom of the booster cushion when this is turned so that the seating plane 2 is in its most elevated position, and thus so that they are located at the top of the booster cushion when this is inverted so that the seating plane is at its lowermost position. By this arrangement the height of the back rest 5 is adapted to the intended use for different sizes of the occupants. Thus with a smaller and shorter child the booster cushion 1 should be turned so that the seating plane 2 is in its most elevated position and in this case the back rest 5 will then be in its lowermost position. When a somewhat taller child is using the booster seat the cushion should be turned with its seating plane 2 in its lowermost position and then the back rest with the head rest 6 will be in its uppermost position. Thus, an adjustable booster seat according to the invention makes it possible to adapt the seating height of the child to the adult safety belt and it also makes it possible to adjust the height of the head rest to the size of the child.

Claims: 1. Booster seat for juvenile auto passengers, incorporating a booster cushion (1) with a seating plane (2) and side portions (3) and with guide means (4) for the auto safety belt, characterised in that the booster cushion (1) is invertible and that the seating plane (2) is double sided and is located displaced from the middle of the height of the side portions (3) towards one of the horizontal ends of each side portion (3). 2. Booster seat according to claim 1, characterised in that the back rest (5) is detachably connected to the booster cushion (1) by means of a grip screw means (8) and sockets (9) in the booster cushion (1). 3. Booster cushion according to claim 2, characterised in that the socket (9) is displaced from the middle position towards one of the horizontal ends of each of the side portions (3). 4. Booster cushion according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the back rest (5) is provided with a head rest (6), the lower edge of which is formed as a guide means for the shoulder belt of the auto safety belt. 5. Booster cushion according to any of claims 2-4, characterised in that the back rest (5) is provided with detachable and adjustable side supports (7).

Inventors: SKOELD, BJOERN-AKE, TINGVALL, CLAES, Sköld, Björn-Ake
Applicants: FOLKSAM OEMSESIDIG SAKFOERSAEKRING
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60N2
IPC codes: B60N2