Patent Publication Number: US-2007108813-A1

Title: Vehicular seat assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/751,078 that was filed Jan. 2, 2004, which is filly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING SPONSORED RESEARCH AND/OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to seats for motor vehicles, and more particularly, to a child seat assembly for use in motor vehicles.  
      2. General Background of the Invention  
      It has become increasingly desirable to place special seating apparatuses in motor vehicles to accommodate children. For instance, typically a rear-facing infant seat is utilized to sufficiently restrain an “infant,” meaning a person that is generally less than one-year-old or that weighs less than about twenty (20) pounds, enabling the infant to safely ride in a motor vehicle. Some of these conventional infant seats are at least generally immobilized, relative to an integrated, adult-accommodating seat of the motor vehicle, by extending a seat belt of the motor vehicle through at least a portion of the infant seat or by interconnecting one or more support straps of the infant seat with a frame of the motor vehicle or a combination thereof.  
      Once it is determined that a child has outgrown (e.g., is too tall and/or heavy to be appropriately accommodated by) an above-mentioned infant seat, the infant seat is typically removed from the motor vehicle and replaced by a toddler seat that may be utilized to sufficiently restrain a “toddler,” meaning a person that is generally older or larger than an infant but not more than forty (40) to sixty-five (65) pounds, enabling the toddler to safely ride in the motor vehicle. Like many conventional infant seats, many conventional toddler seats are at least generally immobilized, relative to the integrated, adult-accommodating seat of the motor vehicle, by extending a seat belt of the motor vehicle through at least a portion of the toddler seat or by interconnecting one or more support straps of the toddler seat with the frame of the motor vehicle or a combination thereof.  
      Eventually, it typically becomes desirable to remove the above-mentioned toddler seat from the motor vehicle and replace the same with a booster seat that may be utilized to sufficiently restrain a “youth,” meaning a person that is generally larger than a toddler but less than about fifty-six (56) inches tall (i.e. not tall enough to use the vehicle&#39;s standard restraint system while seated on the vehicle&#39;s primary seating surface), enabling the youth to safely ride in the motor vehicle. These booster seats may be fastened into the motor vehicle using a seat belt of the motor vehicle or one or more support straps of the booster seat; in some configurations, the booster seat simply rests on the vehicle&#39;s standard seat in order to seat the youth at an elevation sufficient to allow the youth to be restrained using the vehicle&#39;s standard safety belt.  
      Regardless of the particular models utilized, the designs of these special seats for children have generally required parents or guardians of a child to purchase, at a significant cost, an infant seat, a toddler seat, and a booster seat through the growth of their child. In addition, these special seats for children must be installed properly, i.e. immobile relative to the vehicle&#39;s primary seat, to provide the desired level of safety, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that as many as 80% of these seats are improperly installed.  
      As an alternative, some vehicle seats have been equipped with a child seat contained therein, commonly referred to as an integrated child seat. However, designs of these conventional integrated child seats generally allow them to only be useful during a short portion of a child&#39;s life, thus still requiring the purchase of one or more of an infant seat, a toddler seat, and a booster seat. For example, a motor vehicle may include an integrated booster seat, but the integrated booster seat is generally not suitable for accommodating an infant and/or toddler. Thus, the vehicle owner may still have to purchase an infant seat or a toddler seat or both to sufficiently accommodate the owner&#39;s child(ren).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the objectives of the present invention are to provide a seat assembly for a motor vehicle that can sufficiently accommodate an infant, a toddler, a youth, and an adult that is cost effective and easy to use.  
      The invention comprises a seat assembly for a motor vehicle that includes a seat and a backrest. The backrest contains a supplemental seat, which has a first end portion that is pivotally connected to the backrest and an opposing second end portion, and a supplemental back rest, and a portion of the backrest additionally forms a pivotally deployable toddler armrest.  
      This basic structure allows the seat assembly to be configured in four different ways to accommodate the seating of an adult, a youth, a toddler, and an infant respectively. To accommodate an adult, the supplemental seat and supplemental backrest are stowed in the receptacle, with a back support surface of the supplemental seat providing a portion of the support for the back of an adult using the seat assembly.  
      To accommodate a youth, the supplemental seat is pivoted out of the receptacle in the backrest to rest on the seat, exposing a seating surface for the youth to sit on. The supplemental backrest moves forward to fill the void in the backrest and to provide support for the youth&#39;s back. This places the youth at a sufficient height to utilize the vehicle&#39;s standard restraint system.  
      To accommodate a toddler, the supplemental seat is pivoted out of the receptacle in the backrest and the supplemental backrest is moved forward as when the seat assembly is configured to seat a youth. In addition, the toddler armrest is deployed, which also makes a restraint system designed specifically for restraining a toddler accessible.  
      To accommodate an infant, the supplemental seat is pivoted out of the receptacle in the backrest to rest on the seat. An upper portion of the supplemental seat is then pivoted about the second end portion of the supplemental seat to form an obtuse angle with a lower portion of the supplemental seat, exposing an infant seating area and a restraint system designed specifically for restraining an infant.  
      In addition, the supplemental seat portion is preferably, but not necessarily, removable from the vehicle. This particular feature is especially valuable for parents of infants that often desire to remove an infant seat from a vehicle to transport the infant from the car. To protect the back support surface of the seat assembly and to provide additional stability when the supplemental seat is removed from the vehicle, a base may be provided that the lower portion of the supplemental seat may snap into.  
      Because the supplemental seat is not attached to the vehicle&#39;s seat assembly using the vehicle&#39;s safety belts, the risk of improper installation is virtually eliminated. And even when the supplemental seat is removable, the interconnection between the supplemental seat and the backrest is of a positive, locking type interconnection that is not dependent on the ability of a vehicle owner to properly tension belts that are intended to keep a child seat immobile relative to the vehicle&#39;s seat. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the certain embodiments of the invention given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the seat assembly configured to seat an adult.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in a booster seat arrangement to seat a youth.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in a toddler seat arrangement to seat a youth.  
       FIG. 4   FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the seat assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in an infant seat arrangement to seat an infant.  
       FIG. 5A  is a sectioned, side view of the seat assembly configured as in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5B  is a sectioned, side view of the seat assembly configured as in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5C  is a sectioned, side view of the seat assembly configured as in  FIG. 4  with the supplemental seat detached from the remainder of the seat assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The seat assembly of the current invention is capable of seating four different types of persons. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , seat assembly  10  is configured to seat an “infant,” meaning a person that is generally less than one-year-old or that weighs less than about twenty (20) pounds, in a rear-facing position using an “infant restraint system” that is integral to seat assembly  10 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , seat assembly  10  is configured to seat a “toddler,” meaning a person that is generally older or larger than an infant but not more than forty (40) to sixty-five (65) pounds, in a forward-facing position using a “toddler restraint system” that is integral to seat assembly  10 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , seat assembly  10  is configured as a booster seat to seat a “youth,” meaning a person that is generally larger than a toddler but less than about fifty-six (56) inches tall (i.e. not tall enough to use the vehicle&#39;s standard restraint system while seated on primary seating surface  13 ), in a forward-facing position. Finally, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , seat assembly  10  is configured to seat an “adult,” meaning a person that is generally taller than fifty-six (56) inches (i.e. tall enough to use the vehicle&#39;s standard restraint system while seated on primary seating surface  13 ), in a forward-facing position.  
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a seat assembly  10  that includes seat  12 , backrest  14 , supplemental seat  16 , toddler armrest  18 , and head rest  20 . First end portion  22  of supplemental seat  16  is pivotally interconnected with backrest  14  such that supplemental seat  16  is contained in receptacle  15  defined in backrest  14  when supplemental seat  16  is in its closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  wherein back support surface  24  of supplemental seat  16  provides back support for an adult using seat assembly  10 . When supplemental seat  16  is pivoted into its open position (as shown by arrow  17  in  FIG. 2 ), back support surface  24  of supplemental seat  16  rests on primary seating surface  13  as shown in  FIG. 2 , exposing seating surface  26  of supplemental seat  16 . When supplemental seat  16  is in its open position, supplemental backrest  28  moves forward to fill the void in backrest  14  as shown by arrow  27  in  FIG. 2 . The forward movement of supplemental backrest  28  is coordinated with the opening of supplemental seat  16  using mechanical linkage  30  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). Supplemental backrest  28  preferably travels on four (4) slides  29  (best seen in  FIG. 5B ). Alternatively, one or more electromechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic drives can be utilized to pivot supplemental seat  16  and to move supplemental back rest  28 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates seat assembly  10  configured as a booster seat to seat a youth in a forward-facing position. In this configuration, supplemental seat  16  is in its open position, resting on seating surface  13 , and supplemental backrest  28  is in its forward position. In this configuration, when a youth is seated on seating surface  26  of supplemental seat  16 , the youth&#39;s back is supported by supplemental backrest  28 . The youth is restrained using the vehicle&#39;s restraint system (not shown).  
       FIG. 3  illustrates seat assembly  10  configured as a toddler seat to seat a toddler in a forward-facing position. In this configuration, supplemental seat  16  is in its open position, resting on seating surface  13 ; supplemental backrest  28  is in its forward position; and toddler armrest  18  is pivoted into its open position as shown by arrow  21 . In this configuration, when a toddler is seated on seating surface  26  of supplemental seat  16 , the toddler&#39;s back is supported by supplemental backrest  28 , and the toddler&#39;s torso is surrounded by toddler armrest  18 . Toddler armrest  18  is preferably U-shaped with the open end portions of the U being pivotally connected to backrest  14  such that toddler armrest  18  forms a peripheral portion of back support surface  19  when toddler armrest  18  is in its closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The toddler is restrained in seat assembly  10  using a toddler restraint system that is integral to seat assembly  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the toddler restraint system comprises a pair of retractable belts  32 , a pair of typical belt retractor mechanisms  33 , toddler male buckle  34 , and toddler female buckle  36 . Retractor mechanisms  33  are mounted within backrest  14  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). Retractable belts  32  are routed through backrest  14  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) and emerge from slots  38  in backrest  14  such that retractable belts  32  and toddler male buckle are hidden by toddler armrest  18  when it is in its closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  4 . Alternatively, retractor mechanisms  33  could be mounted within, or immediately behind, seat  12  with retractable belts  32  extending up and through backrest  14 . Retractable belts  32  are connected to toddler male buckle  34 , whereby toddler male buckle  34  is accessible only when toddler armrest  18  is in its open position. Toddler female buckle  36  is attached to second end portion  23  of supplemental seat  16 . Supplemental seat  16  can be configured with a receptacle to contain toddler female buckle  36  when supplemental seat  16  is not being used by a toddler.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates seat assembly  10  configured as an infant seat to seat an infant in a rear-facing position. In this configuration, supplemental seat  16  is in its open position, with lower portion  40  of supplemental seat  16  resting on seating surface  13  and upper portion  42  of supplemental seat  16  being pivoted to its open position to form an obtuse angle with lower portion  40  of supplemental seat  16 ; supplemental backrest  28  is in its forward position; and toddler armrest  18  is in its closed position. In this configuration, lower portion  40  and upper portion  42  of supplemental seat  16  cooperate to support the infant with the infant&#39;s buttocks and legs being supported by infant buttock supporting surface  50  of lower portion  40  and the infant&#39;s back, neck, and head being supported by infant back supporting surface  52  of upper portion  42 . The infant is restrained in supplemental seat  16  using an infant restraint system that is integral to supplemental seat assembly  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the infant restraint system comprises a pair of infant restraint belts  44 , which are attached to upper portion  42  of supplemental seat  16  at their first ends  44   a ; infant male buckle  46 , which is attached to the second ends  44   b  of infant restraint belts  44 ; and infant female buckle  48 , which is attached to lower portion  40  of supplemental seat  16 . The components of the infant restraint system may additionally be encapsulated by lower portion  40  and upper portion  42  of supplemental seat  16  when upper portion  42  is in its closed position.  
       FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are sectioned side views of seat assembly  10  to disclose an embodiment of seat assembly  10  utilizing mechanical linkage  30  to coordinate the movement of supplemental seat  16  and supplemental backrest  28 . These figures additionally show the routing of retractable belts  32  through backrest  14 .  
       FIG. 5C  additionally illustrates that supplemental seat  16  may be detached from seat assembly  10  and removed from the vehicle as demonstrated by arrow  59 . This capability is particularly advantageous when supplemental seat  16  is configured as an infant seat as shown in  FIG. 5C . Using infant seat carrying handle  54 , supplemental seat  16  can easily be transported, even when an infant is restrained in supplemental seat  16  with the infant restraint system. To protect back support surface  24  of supplemental seat  16  when supplemental seat  16  is removed from the vehicle, base  56  may be provided that lower portion  40  of supplemental seat  16  can be snapped into as indicated by arrow  60 . Bottom surface  58  of base  56  preferably comprises a non-skid material such as rubber to promote the stability supplemental seat  16  when it detached from backrest  14 .  
      Referring again to  FIG. 3 , toddler armrest  18  may further define one or more receptacles  62  that are accessible when toddler armrest  18  is in its open position. Receptacle  62  in  FIG. 3  is shown as being cylindrical to accept a cup, but receptacles  62  can be of a variety of sizes and shapes.  
      In one embodiment of seat assembly  10 , head rest  20  can be adjusted downward to provide support for a toddler&#39;s head when toddler armrest  18  is in its open position. In an alternate embodiment, head rest  20  is attached to toddler armrest  18  and adjustable so that a toddler may lay its head on said headrest when the toddler armrest is in its open position.  
      While the above describes the illustrated embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art may appreciate that certain modifications may be made to the apparatus and methodology herein disclosed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that the invention may be adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications, and alterations and that all such are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.