MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A BABY SEAT

Abstract: A mounting assembly for supporting a baby seat on a bicycle is provided. A seat bracket (8) disposed on the underside of the baby seat is engageable with a support bracket (3) mounted to the bicycle, the relative position of the seat bracket (8) and the support bracket (3) being adjustable. A securement shaft (1) has eccentric portions (13) which hold the brackets (3, 8) in fixed engagement in a closed position. In an opened position, eccentric portions (13) on the securement shaft (1) allow the seat bracket (8) and the support bracket (3) to be disengaged, whereafter the lengthwise adjustment can be made.

Description: MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A BABY SEAT The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for securing a baby seat on a bicycle. More particularly, the invention relates to the securement of the baby seat to the bicycle in a manner in which the relative position of the baby seat to the lengthwise position of the mounted seat in travel direction of the bicycle can be adjusted. Baby seats are conventionally mounted at various positions on a bicycle, for example behind the seat and above the rear bicycle wheel or in front of the seat but behind the handle bars. Depending on the size of the adult riding the bicycle and/or the size of the baby, it is desirable to adjust the lengthwise or travel direction of the bicycle. Adjustment mechanisms are known, however, these often require complicated manipulations and sometimes the additional use of tools. The object of the present invention is to provide a mounting assembly for a baby seat which on the one hand allows simple manual adjustment and on the other hand provides for reliable securement of the baby seat once it has been adjusted. According to the present invention, a mounting assembly for supporting a baby seat on a bicycle is provided as defined in Claim 1. Embodiments of the assembly are defined in the dependent claims . The mounting assembly comprises carrier means fixable to the bicycle itself having a support bracket, which preferably undertakes a horizontal position. A seat bracket attached to the underside of the baby seat is engageable with the support bracket, whereby the seat bracket can be adjusted in a lengthwise direction relative to the support bracket. A securement shaft is mounted to the baby seat in a manner to urge the seat bracket and support bracket into engagement. The securement shaft is provided with eccentric portions and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the cam surfaces of the eccentric portions urge the seat bracket and the support bracket into fixed engagement. In the open position, the eccentric portions allow the seat bracket and support bracket to disengage from one another and to be moved relative to one another. By use of the securement shaft, it is possible to perform readjustment of the position of the baby seat by the simple manual operation of rotating the securement shaft. Preferably, locking means are provided to hold the securement shaft in the closed position. Preferably a key element is provided which can be inserted into a slot in the bottom of the baby seat . The key element comprises a tip end, which extend through the baby seat to a position in which it can engage into a slot of the securement shaft to prevent its rotation. In another embodiment, the locking means comprise a knob disposed at the end of the shaft to facilitate the turning operation. In this case, the locking means comprise a key element, the tip of which engages with the turning knob so as to prevent its rotation. The mounting assembly of the present invention comprises very few parts and has the advantage of simple construction. The mounting struts for the securement shaft can be formed integrally for example by injection moulding with the baby seat itself. The carrier means include carrier rods for fixing the support bracket to the bicycle. To improve stability, the carrier rods are passed through holes in a wall of the baby seat and continue to the underside of the baby seat where the support bracket engages the seat bracket . WO 99/59863 _ -, PCT/IB98/00742 Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a mounting assembly for a baby seat according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figs. 2a and 2b show the mounting assembly according to another embodiment by which the baby seat is mounted behind the bicycle seat; Figs. 3a and 3b show perspective views of the mounting assembly . Now referring to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the invention will be described. The mounting assembly comprises carrier means which include the connector rods 5, the free ends of which may be fixed to the bicycle by suitable means. As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2, the connector rods would be secured to the frame of the bicycle holding the bicycle seat. Although the embodiment relates a position behind the bicycle seat, the present invention is not restricted to this configuration. The mounting assembly could also be used to support the baby seat between the bicycle handle bars and the bicycle seat. The other ends of the connector rods hold a support bracket 3 as best shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. Preferably, the connector rods 5 extend through holes 6 in a front wall of the baby seat 2. The holes 6 are dimensioned to allow a frictional fit of the connector rods, whereby relative motion between the rods 5 and the holes 6 is possible. The arrangement provides additional stability between the carrier means and the baby seat against any twisting or tipping motion of the baby seat 2 with respect to the bicycle . A seat bracket 8 is attached to the underside of the baby seat 2, which may be a separate element or may be integrally formed with the baby seat . The seat bracket 8 rests on the support bracket 3, however the two brackets are adjustable in lengthwise direction with respect to one another when not urged into fixed engagement. As shown in Fig. 1, a securement shaft 1 is mounted to the baby seat by means of mounting struts 7. The struts 7 as also seen in Figs. 3a and 3b are preferably integrally moulded with the baby seat 2. The struts are provided with bores to receive the securement shaft 1 therebetween. As shown in Fig. 1, the securement shaft has eccentric portions 13. When rotated to the closed position as shown in Fig. 3a, the cam surfaces of the eccentric portions 13 urge the seat bracket 8 and the support bracket 3 into fixed engagement. As shown in Fig. 1, the seat bracket 8 and the support bracket 3 are formed with engaging surfaces having ridges which interlock with one another. Preferably, a saw-tooth like structure of ridges running perpendicular to the lengthwise direction are formed in both the seat bracket 8 and the support bracket 3. When the securement shaft 1 is rotated to the open position, the cam surfaces of the eccentric portions 13 release the seat bracket from the support bracket such that their engaging surfaces can be separated from one another. In the disengaged or opened position of the securement shaft 1, the two brackets can then be moved relative to one another in the lengthwise direction. When the proper adjustment has been made, the securement shaft 1 is then simply rotated manually to the closed position. Locking means are preferably provided to prevent rotation of the securement shaft 1 away from the closed position WO 99/59863 _ _- _ PCT/IB98/00742 once set. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the locking means comprise a key element 4 which can be inserted through a slot (not shown) in the base of the baby seat 2. The key element 4 has a tip portion 4a which is adapted to engage with a slot 9 in the securement shaft 1 as shown in Fig. 1. Thus when the lengthwise position of the baby seat is to be adjusted, the key element can be removed manually whereby the securement shaft 1 is free to rotate to the opened position. After readjustment, the securement shaft 1 is rotated back to the closed position and the key element 4 inserted to lock the securement shaft 1. In another embodiment as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b, the securement shaft 1 is provided with a turning knob 12 at one outer end. As shown in Fig. 2a, the key element 4 is inserted through a slot (not shown) in the base of the baby seat as described above. In this case, however, the slot is positioned such that the tip end 4a of the key element 4 engages the handle to hold it in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2a. When the key element 4 is removed, the securement shaft 1 can be moved by the knob 12 into the open position as shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 2a. Of course, the key element 4 and the turning knob 12 can be located on the outer end of the securement shaft 1 as shown in Fig. 3a. As mentioned above, the carrier rods 5 for supporting the baby seat pass through holes 6 in a wall of the baby seat as best shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. This arrangement allows better stability of the baby seat against a tipping forward or backward of the baby seat. Additional stability is also provided against any sideward movement of the baby seat, which is especially important when turning corners on the bicycle.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Mounting assembly for supporting a baby seat on a bicycle, comprising: carrier means (3, 5) fixable to the bicycle having a support bracket (3) , a seat bracket (8) disposed on the underside of the baby seat to be engageable with the support bracket (3) , wherein the relative position of the seat bracket (8) to the support bracket (3) is adjustable in the travel direction of the bicycle, a securement shaft (1) mounted to the baby seat and provided with eccentric portions (13), the securement shaft (1) being rotatable to a closed position in which the eccentric portions hold the seat bracket (8) and support bracket (3) in fixed engagement and to an open position in which the eccentric portions (13) allow the seat bracket (8) and support bracket (3) to be disengaged and moved relative to one another. 2. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein the engaging surface of the seat bracket (8) is formed with saw-tooth ridges which interlock in form fit manner with corresponding saw-tooth ridges on the engaging surface of the support bracket (3) . 3. The assembly of Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the securement shaft (1) is mounted to the baby seat (2) by mounting struts (7) extending from and integrally formed with the baby seat (2) . 4. The assembly of Claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising locking means (4, 9) to prevent rotation of the securement shaft (1) away from the closed position. 5. The assembly of Claim 4, wherein the locking means comprise a key element (4) formed to be inserted into a slot in the baby seat, the tip of the key element (4) when inserted engaging with a slot (9) in the securement shaft (1) to prevent its rotation. 6. The assembly of Claim 4, wherein one end of the securement shaft (1) is provided with a turning knob (12) and wherein the locking means comprise a key element (4) formed to be inserted into a slot in the baby seat (2) , the tip of the key element (4) when inserted engaging with the turning knob (12) so as to prevent its rotation. 7. The assembly of any one of the Claims 1 to 6, wherein said carrier means (3, 5) include carrier rods (5) for fixing the support bracket (3) with respect to the bicycle, the carrier rods (5) passing through holes (6) in a wall of the baby seat and extending to the underside of the baby seat where the support bracket (3) is held.

Inventors: HERMANSEN LEIF, HERMANSEN, LEIF
Applicants: HAMAX AS, HERMANSEN LEIF, HERMANSEN, LEIF
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B62J1
IPC codes: B62J1