Abstract:
A safety device for laterally supporting a vehicle occupant, in particular a child, in the area of the pelvis, has two supporting devices that are spaced apart from each other. To improve lateral support of the vehicle occupant, the two supporting devices are connected rigidly to each other by an elongate carrier element.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a safety device for laterally supporting a child or other vehicle occupant in the area of the pelvis, with two supporting devices which are spaced apart from each other. 
         [0002]    German patent document DE 43 42 959 C2 discloses a vehicle seat with a seat cushion bearing seat upholstery and a backrest having backrest upholstery. This known vehicle seat has an upholstered element which can be swung out of a depression in the upholstery and by which the lateral support for children is to be improved. German publication DE 100 38 719 A1 discloses an armrest that is coupled to a backrest of a seat and, in an inoperative state, that is arranged in a lowered position on or in the backrest of the seat. If a hazardous situation is identified, the armrest is moved out of the lowered position into a protective position at least in an occupant&#39;s shoulder and upper arm area. German patent document DE 196 05 779 C2 discloses a vehicle seat with adjustable seat cheeks and backrest cheeks. This known vehicle seat comprises a seat part with seat cheeks and a backrest part with backrest cheeks. The seat cheeks and/or backrest cheeks, which are held moveably, take the form of upholstered cheek parts, and can be adjusted from a wide position into a narrow position via a mechanical adjusting device. German publication DE 102 58 245 A1 discloses a safety device which has at least one restraining fan in the form of a side fan which, in a non-activated basic state, is stowed folded up on a vehicle component. In an activated state, the side fan can be opened out to form a side support laterally next to a sitting position. 
         [0003]    An object of the invention is to provide a safety device for laterally supporting a vehicle occupant, such as a child, in the area of the pelvis, with two supporting devices which are spaced apart from each other and by which the lateral support of the vehicle occupant can be further improved. 
         [0004]    This object is achieved in a safety device for laterally supporting a vehicle occupant such as a child in the area of the pelvis with two supporting devices that are spaced apart from each other. The two supporting devices are connected rigidly to each other by an elongate carrier element. The carrier element permits the supporting devices to be fastened in a stable manner to the supporting structure of a motor vehicle. The safety device according to the invention preferably forms part of a child protection system which is integrated in the vehicle, is of modular construction, and can be expanded. In this case, the backrest of an existing vehicle seat is preferably used for the child protection system. A raised child seat surface can be integrated into the backrest or into the vehicle seat surface. The elongate carrier element is preferably arranged in the region of the intersection between backrest and seat surface. The receiving space for the raised child seat surface, which can preferably be swung out, can be used, for example, for fastening or clamping the safety device, in particular of the elongate carrier element. 
         [0005]    In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the safety device, the elongate carrier element is formed from a metal rod. The rod is preferably encased by a soft material in order to minimize the risk of injury. 
         [0006]    In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, one of the supporting devices is fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element. The supporting devices are preferably fastened to the carrier element in a detachable manner, i.e. in a manner such that they can be removed without being destroyed, and in an adjustable manner. This simplifies accommodating the safety device when not in use. 
         [0007]    In another preferred embodiment of the safety device, the supporting devices are fastened to the carrier element with the aid of a respective holding device. By way of the holding devices, the supporting devices are positioned relative to the existing vehicle backrest and/or vehicle seat surface. 
         [0008]    In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, two supporting elements are fastened to each of the holding devices. Two supporting elements form a supporting device. One of the supporting elements is preferably arranged in the area of the vehicle occupant&#39;s pelvis. The other supporting element is preferably arranged in the area of the vehicle occupant&#39;s associated thigh. 
         [0009]    In another preferred embodiment of the safety device, a slot for the passage of a seat belt is provided between two supporting elements fastened to a holding device. This makes it easier for the vehicle occupant to put on the seat belt when the safety device is fitted. 
         [0010]    In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, one end of a fastening arm is fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element. The fastening arms serve to fasten the safety device to the supporting structure of a motor vehicle. 
         [0011]    In yet another preferred embodiment of the safety device, a fastening element is provided at the other end of the fastening arm and can be used to fasten the carrier element to a fastening point fixed to the vehicle in a detachable manner, i.e. in a manner such that it can be removed without being destroyed. The fastening elements are preferably latching or snap-in elements. This affords the advantage that the safety device can be fitted simply and rapidly. 
         [0012]    In a still further preferred embodiment of the safety device, the ends of the fastening points fixed to the vehicle are formed by two bows which are fastened to the vehicle body of a motor vehicle between a backrest and a seat surface. To fasten the safety device, use is preferably made of what are referred to as Isofix fastening points, which are standardized. The term Isofix stands for a worldwide standard for the fastening of child restraint systems. In this case, anchorage points at which child seats can be inserted and can be automatically locked in place are provided on the vehicle structure in the region of the lower end of the backrest of the vehicle seat. The present invention does not use the existing Isofix fastening points to fasten an entire child seat, but rather to fasten the safety device. 
         [0013]    In a rear seat of a motor vehicle, which has a seat surface and a backrest, the object specified above is achieved by having a previously described safety device fastened in a detachable manner, i.e. in a manner such that it can be removed without being destroyed, in the region of the intersection between seat surface and backrest. If the need arises, the safety device according to the invention can be fastened simply and rapidly to the supporting structure of the motor vehicle. The safety device according to the invention is preferably combined with a raised seat, which is integrated in the vehicle. 
         [0014]    Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the description below, in which an exemplary embodiment is described in detail with reference to the drawing. Each of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually by themselves or in any desired combination. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The attached drawing perspectively illustrates a safety device according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The attached drawing shows a safety device  1  according to the invention that has two lateral supporting devices  3 ,  4  for the area of the pelvis of a child. The left supporting device  4  comprises an upper supporting cheek  6  and a lower supporting cheek  7 . The right supporting device  3  comprises an upper supporting cheek  8  and a lower supporting cheek  9 . 
         [0017]    The upper supporting cheeks  6  and  8  each have a planar bearing surface  11 ,  12 , which is of essentially rectangular design. In the installed state of the safety device  1 , the planar bearing surfaces  12 ,  11  of the upper supporting cheeks  6 ,  8  come to bear against a backrest (not illustrated) of a motor vehicle seat. Each of the upper supporting cheeks  6 ,  8  has the form of a sector of a circle, for example a sector comprising a third of a circle, which starts from the backrest of the vehicle seat and extends in the direction of the seat surface. The lower side cheeks  7 ,  9  essentially have the form of elongate cubes, which each come to bear by means of their lower longitudinal side edge against the seat surface of a vehicle seat. The upper supporting cheeks  6 ,  8 , which are also referred to as side cheeks, serve to support a child&#39;s body in the area of the hips. The lower supporting cheeks  7 ,  9 , which are also referred to as lower side cheeks, serve to support the child&#39;s body in the area of the thighs. 
         [0018]    The upper supporting cheek  8  and the lower supporting cheek  9  are fastened to a holding device  14  which comprises a holding element  15  and a holding element  16 . The lower side cheek  9  is fastened to one end of the holding element  16 . The other end of the holding element  16  is fastened in the interior of the upper supporting cheek  8  to one end of the holding element  15 . The other end of the holding element  15  is fastened to one end of a carrier rod  18 . The upper side cheek  6  and the lower side cheek  7  of the supporting device  4  are fastened to the other end of the carrier rod  18  with the aid of a holding device  19  which is constructed in the same manner as the holding device  14 . 
         [0019]    The supporting cheeks  6  to  9  are each attached in pairs to the ends of the carrier rod  18  in such a manner that a slot  22 ,  21  remains free between the upper side cheeks  6 ,  8  and the associated lower side cheeks  7 ,  9  and serves for the passage of a seat belt (not illustrated). The safety device  1  according to the invention is attached, in particular, in the rear of a motor vehicle. The safety device  1  is preferably used in conjunction with integrated child seats. The connection of the safety device  1  to the vehicle can take place, for example, by means of clamping. It is conceivable to integrate a belt-guiding means into the supporting cheeks  6  to  9 . The supporting cheeks  6  to  9  are of upholstered design, at least on the sides which face the child. 
         [0020]    One fastening arm  25 ,  26  is fastened to each of the ends of the carrier rod  18  and, in the installed state of the safety device  1 , extends between backrest and seat surface of the vehicle seat to an Isofix fastening point (not illustrated). The two fastening arms  25 ,  26  are connected detachably to the carrier rod  18  with the aid of screws  31 ,  32 . Respective latching openings  35 ,  36  which are equipped with a latching element, for example a snap-in hook, are formed at the free ends of the fastening arms  25 ,  26 .