Patent Publication Number: US-2017349132-A1

Title: Inflatable protection for a child seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from PCT/SE2015/051383, filed Dec. 21, 2015, and Swedish No. 14516390-7, Dec. 22, 2014 incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a protection of a child which is seated in a child seat of e.g. a bicycle and more specifically to an inflatable airbag for such a seat. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Every day accidents happen where bicycles are involved. In order to avoid severe injuries the cyclist may wear protection such as a helmet or protective garments. However, a lot of cyclists today transport their children on the back of the bicycle which means that they are also exposed to dangerous situations. The alternative safety devices for the person sitting behind the cyclist are few on the market but what is more important to a parent than the safety of their child. A frontal or back impact with e.g. a vehicle will make the bicycle flip over, leaving the child completely unprotected. If the cycle falls to the ground or get hit by a car what protects the child besides from a helmet? 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved child protection device. This object is achieved by a technique defined in the appended independent claims; certain embodiments being set forth in the related dependent claims. 
     In a first aspect there is provided a device for protecting a child in a child seat of a bicycle or the like, during an unexpected event, e.g. a collision or fall. The device comprises a case unit and an inflatable airbag unit, which is arranged within the case unit in an idle state. The airbag unit is configured to inflate to an inflated state in case of an abnormal movement of the child seat and to at least partly cover the child in said inflated state. The device at least mitigates the risks of injuring the child in an impact with e.g. another or the ground. 
     In an embodiment of the invention the device is detachably mounted to the child seat. This is advantageous since the device then may be used for several child seats. 
     In another embodiment the device is mounted to a back portion of a back rest of the child seat. This is an advantageous since it is easy for the user to access the back portion of the seat. 
     In yet another embodiment the inflatable airbag unit comprises at least three inflatable portions. The first portion is configured to inflate around one side of said child seat and child, the second portion is configured to inflate around the other side of said child seat and child, and the third portion is configured to inflate above the top of said child seat and at least partly down over the head of the child. This gives a good protection for the child during an impact. 
     In an alternative embodiment the device further comprises inflator means, where the inflator means comprises a sensor element which is configured to detect an abnormal movement of said child seat and control means which is connected to the sensor element and which controls the inflation of the airbag unit. 
     In an embodiment the device further comprises an indicator which is configured to indicate a mode of the device. In this way it is easy for the user to detect the status of the device, e.g. if the device is properly attached to the child seat or if the battery needs to be charged. 
     In another embodiment the indicator is configured to display the indication on the top surface if the top portion. The indication is then very easy to spot for a user. 
     In a second aspect there is provided a child seat for a bicycle comprising a device as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following, reference being made to the appended drawings which illustrate non-limiting examples of how the inventive concept can be reduced into practice. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the back side of a child seat provided with a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the back side of a child seat showing a base portion and a case unit of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the elements of a inflator means according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. is a top view of the base portion of the device; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the case unit of the device  FIG. 7  is a view of the inside of the case unit of the device; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the case unit of the device; and 
         FIGS. 9 a -9 d    shows a sequence of when an airbag unit of the device is inflated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures a device  10  for protecting a child C in a child seat S of e.g. a bicycle B or the like is provided. The protection device  10  is able to protect the child C during an unexpected event or an abnormal movement of the child seat S, e.g. a collision or a fall. The device  10  includes a case unit  11  and an inflatable airbag unit  12  which is arranged within the case unit  11  in an idle state. The airbag unit  12  is configured to inflate to an inflated state in case of the abnormal movement of the child seat S and to at least partly cover the child C in the inflated state. The inflation process is shown in  FIGS. 9 a   - 9   d.    
     The device  10  is preferably detachably mounted to the child seat S, which can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This means that the device  10  may be moved between child seats S or bicycles B depending which one is in use. In order to mount the device  10  easily to the child seat S it further includes a base portion  14  which is mounted to the child seat S and which is configured to receive the case unit  11 . The case unit  11  is detachably mounted to the base portion  14  whereas it is preferred that the base unit is fixed to the child seat S by means of e.g. screws  15 . Each transportation unit, e.g. bicycle, which is intended to use the device  10  may then each have a base portion  14  to which one joint case unit  11  is attachable to. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the device is detachably mounted to a part of the transportation unit, e.g. bicycle. 
     The case unit  11  is provided with a protrusion  17  on its bottom surface  18 , see  FIG. 6 , which corresponds to a recess  19  of the top surface  20  of the base portion  14 , see  FIGS. 3 and 5 . In order to attach the case unit  11  to the base portion  14  the protrusion is inserted into the recess  19  and then rotated so that the protrusion  17  is secured in the recess  19 . The base portion  14  is preferably mounted to a back portion P of a back rest R of the child seat S but may in another embodiment be mounted elsewhere on either the child seat S or the bicycle B. 
     The inflatable airbag unit  12  has at least three inflatable portions  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , which can be seen in  FIGS. 9 a -9 d   , where the first portion  22   a  is configured to inflate around one side of the child seat S and child C, the second portion  22   b  is configured to inflate around the other side of the child seat S and child C, and the third portion  22   c  is configured to inflate above the top of the child seat S and at least partly down over the head of the child C. The three inflatable portions  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  may in one embodiment be made in one piece but may in an alternative embodiment be made as at least two separate pieces. The airbag unit  12  is preferably made of an ultra-strong nylon fabric but may be made of any other material suitable for the purpose. 
     Further, shown in  FIG. 3 , the case unit  11  includes a bottom portion  24  and a top portion  25  which in an idle state are attached to each other, where the top portion  25  is configured to be removed during inflation of the airbag unit  12 . The bottom and top portion  24 ,  25  are each provided with a rim portion  26   a ,  26   b  which enables the top portion  25  to be evenly removed from the bottom portion  24  during inflation of the airbag unit  12 . In an embodiment the entire top portion  25  falls off the bottom portion  24  during the beginning of the inflation process. In an alternative embodiment the top portion breaks into pieces during the inflation. The rim portion  26  is configured to make the removal of the top portion  25  from the bottom portion  24  more controlled by being more sensitive to increased pressure from e.g. the airbag unit  12 . The portions  24 ,  25  are further provided with gripping areas  28 , three on each portion  24 ,  25 , made of a different material than the rest of the portions  24 ,  25 , which are easy to grip for a user. The rim portion  26  and these gripping areas  28  are made of a softer material than the rest of the portions  24 ,  25  which easily may break during the increased pressure, which means that the inflation process is not hindered by the removal of the top portion  25  from the bottom portion  24 . This softer material is preferably a soft flexible material such as rubber. The material used for the rest of the top and bottom portion  24 ,  25  is preferably a hard non-flexible material, e.g. a hard plastic material. Other materials e.g. carbon fiber may also be used. In alternative embodiment the removal of the top portion from the bottom portion may be done differently. 
     In another embodiment of the invention (not shown) the case unit includes a bottom portion and a top portion, which is an idle state are attached to each other, where the top portion is configured to be opened during inflation of the airbag unit. The top portion may be opened from its middle, like a flower, so that the airbag unit may expand without being hindered. 
     In order to inflate the airbag unit  12  the device  10  further includes inflator means  30 , see e.g.  FIG. 7 , which is arranged within the case unit  11  during the idle state and which is configured to inflate the airbag unit  12  during the abnormal movement of the child seat S. The inflator means  30  which is more specifically shown in  FIG. 4  includes, in this embodiment, a sensor element  31  which is configured to detect the abnormal movement of the child seat S, an inflation valve  32  and control means  33 , e.g. a circuit, which is connected to the sensor element  31  and which controls the inflation valve  32 . In a preferred embodiment the sensor element  31  is an accelerometer which detects a change and/or directional change of movement and/or acceleration. The inflator means  30  preferably also includes a rechargeable battery pack  34 , a gyroscope  35 , which measures the position of the device  10 , a carbon dioxide cartridge  36  and a USB port  37 . The USB port  37  is for charging the battery pack  34 . In alternative embodiments the content of the inflator means  30  can be different from what is described above. For example, the inflator means may use another gas or liquid except from carbon dioxide or a combination of gas and fuel, a so called hybrid. 
     In order to know that the device  10  is e.g. correctly mounted to the base portion  14  the device  10  further includes an indicator  40  which is configured to indicate a mode of the device  10 , see e.g.  FIG. 8 . The indicator  40  is configured to indicate the mode by means of e.g. light and/or sound. More specifically the indicator  40  is configured to indicate the mode of the battery pack  34  of the inflator means  30  and/or if the case unit  11  is correctly mounted to the base portion  14 . The indicator  40  is configured to display the indication on the top surface  27  of the top portion  25  so that the user easily can see that everything is ok before taking off. 
     Finally, although the inventive concept has been described above with reference to specific embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.