Patent Publication Number: US-2023150402-A1

Title: Seat belt fixing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/329,195 filed on May 25, 2021, which is the US national phase of China Patent application No. 202010459845.2 filed on May 26, 2020. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to vehicular seats, and in particular to a seat belt fixing device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional child seat mounted on a vehicular seat is dedicated to a child passenger and equipped with a binder apparatus for fastening the child passenger to the child seat to ensure the child passenger&#39;s safety. The child seat minimizes injuries caused to the child passenger in case of an urgent brake or collision and thus is readily accepted by consumers and popularized worldwide. 
     The child seat is fixed to the vehicular seat with a special seat connector or seat belt. To this end, the vehicular seat is equipped with a special seat belt fixer for clamping a seat belt. Conventionally, the seat belt fixer is provided in the form of one or more spring clips. Users stretch the spring clips, insert the seat belt, and release the spring clips, allowing the seat belt to be held by the spring clips. However, the spring clips pose a risk to user safety. 
     A vehicular seat for use by infant comprises a base and a carrycot. The base is directly fixed to the vehicular seat. The carrycot is mounted on the base. However, the carrycot and base are separable, and thus only the bottom surface of the base is in contact with the vehicular seat, thereby resulting in insufficient stability. Prior art discloses lengthening the end portion of the base and providing a support rail (for example, a support leg 11 of CN204398919U and a support back rest of CN305364393S) on the end portion of the base, at the cost of fixing the seat belt in place with a spring clip, thereby rendering the products structurally complicated, bulky, difficult to deliver, and expensive. 
     Therefore, it is imperative to provide a seat belt fixing device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a seat belt fixing device which are structurally simple, safe, stable, and easy to use. 
     To achieve at least the above objective, a seat belt fixing device is provided. The seat belt fixing device includes a top rod body and a seat belt clamp. The top rod body is pivotally disposed and selectively locked to a seat. The seat belt clamp is disposed on the seat and includes a first clamping element and a second clamping element. The second clamping element is coupled to the top rod body for being rotated to a locked position to clamp a seat belt in conjunction with the first clamping element. 
     In some implementations, the seat belt fixing device further includes a locking element and a fixedly engaging element. The locking element is configured to be selectively coupled to the fixedly engaging element to lock the top rod body. 
     In some implementations, the seat belt fixing device further includes an operating element. The operating element is coupled to the locking element for selectively engaging the locking element to the fixedly engaging element. 
     In some implementations, the locking element includes a fittingly engaging element and a first resilient element. The fittingly engaging element selectively engages the fixedly engaging element, and the first resilient element abuts against the fittingly engaging element. 
     In some implementations, a fixedly engaging groove is formed on the fixedly engaging element. The fittingly engaging element is a hook, and the hook is selectively engagingly coupled to the fixedly engaging groove. 
     In some implementations, the seat belt clamp further includes a second resilient element abutting against the second clamping element. 
     In some implementations, the top rod body includes a rotating portion, a rotation arm and a blocking transverse arm. The rotating portion is pivotally disposed on the seat. An end of the rotation arm is connected to the rotating portion, and the blocking transverse arm is perpendicularly disposed on another end of the rotation arm. 
     In some implementations, the top rod body further includes a mounting rod. The mounting rod is connected between the rotating portion and the rotation arm. The seat belt fixing device further includes a locking element, and the locking element is disposed on the mounting rod. 
     In some implementations, the rotation arm and the blocking transverse arm form a blocking fixing portion, and an acute angle is formed between straight lines joining a terminal end of the blocking fixing portion, a rotation center of the top rod body and a bottom surface of the seat. 
     In some implementations, the blocking fixing portion bends upwardly relative to the rotating portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a seat, with a seat belt fixing device located at a locked position and holding a carrycot in place, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a lateral view based on  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view of the seat, with the seat belt fixing device located at the locked position but not holding the carrycot, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view of the seat, where the seat belt fixing device has exited the locked position. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view based on  FIG.  3    and taken at another angle. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view based on  FIG.  4    and taken at another angle. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view based on  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic view of the seat belt fixing device according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded view based on  FIG.  9   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     To facilitate understanding of the object, characteristics and effects of this present disclosure, embodiments together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the present disclosure are provided. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    through  FIG.  8   , a seat  100  is provided. The seat  100  holds thereon a seat belt fixing device  20  and a fixedly engaging element  11  in place. The seat belt fixing device  20  includes a seat belt clamp  30 , top rod body  21 , locking element  22 , and operating element  23  coupled to locking element  22 . The seat belt clamp  30  includes a first clamping element  31  formed on seat  100  and a second clamping element  32  rotatably configured on seat  100 . The second clamping element  32  is rotatable to a locked position to clamp a seat belt (not shown) and the top rod body  21  while operating in conjunction with the first clamping element  31 . The top rod body  21  and second clamping element  32  are connected and rotate concentrically. The locking element  22  is configured at a terminal end of the second clamping element  32 . At the locked position, the locking element  22  is fittingly, engagingly coupled to the fixedly engaging element  11  to lock the top rod body  21  and second clamping element  32 . The operating element  23  is operated to drive movement of the locking element  22  in order to control the fittingly engagement between the locking element  22  and the fixedly engaging element  11 . 
     The fixedly engaging element  11  and locking element  22  together form a locking component. The fixedly engaging element  11  is configured (formed) on the seat  100 . The locking element  22  is configured on the second clamping element  32 . However, the present disclosure is not restricted to the embodiment. In a variant embodiment, the locking element  22  is also formed on the seat  100 , and the fixedly engaging element  11  is configured or formed on the second clamping element  32 , allowing the operating element  23  to be positioned on the seat  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , in this embodiment, the top rod body  21  is rotatably configured on the seat  100  and rotates concentrically together with the second clamping element  32 . The top rod body  21  has one end rotatably coupled to the seat  100  and the other end directly coupled to the second clamping element  32 . In a variant embodiment, the top rod body  21  can be coupled to the second clamping element  32  through a third element or directly configured on the rotating shaft  34  of the second clamping element  32 , provided that the top rod body  21  rotates with the second clamping element  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8    through  FIG.  10   , the seat belt clamp  30  further includes a second resilient element  33  coupled to the second clamping element  32 . The second resilient element  33  provides to the second clamping element  32  a resilience force for moving away from the locked position. After the operating element has released the locking element, the second clamping element  32  rotates under the action of the second resilient element  33  to move away from the locked position, automatically unfastens the seat belt, and allows users to position or remove the seat belt. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , the second clamping element  32  includes a clamping portion  321  operating in conjunction with the first clamping element  31  and a reinforcing portion  322  coupled to the clamping portion  321 . The reinforcing portion  322  has a front end coupled to the rotating shaft  34  of the second clamping element  32  and a terminal end inserted into the top rod body  21 . 
     In this embodiment, the seat  100  includes a carrycot  16  and a base  10 . The fixedly engaging element  11  is disposed on the base  10 . The second clamping element  32  and top rod body  21  are rotatably coupled to the base  10 . The first clamping element  31  is formed on the base  10 . In this embodiment, the carrycot  16  is removably installed on the base  10 . Alternatively, the seat  100  is any other safety seat rather than restricted to this embodiment, for example, the carrycot  16  is a seat body of a safety seat for use by infants or juveniles. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  8   , in this embodiment, the top rod body  21  is configured on the base  10  and abuts against a stabilizing rail of a vehicular seat back rest  200 . When the top rod body  21  is at the locked position, its terminal end extends to the outer edge of the seat  10  to form a blocking fixing portion  214  capable of protruding from the base  10  of the seat  100 . The blocking fixing portion  214  abuts against the vehicular seat back rest  200 . Alternatively, the top rod body  21  is configured on the base  10  and abuts against a support post of the vehicular seat back rest  200 . At the locked position, a terminal end of the top rod body  21  extends to below the seat  10  to form a support post capable of protruding from below the base of the seat  100  and supportedly disposed between the seat  100  and the floor in the vehicle. The abovementioned constitutes a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , an acute angle is formed between a straight line joining a terminal end of the blocking fixing portion  214  and the rotation center of the top rod body  21  and the bottom surface of the base  10  of the seat  100 . In this embodiment, the rotation center of the top rod body  21  may be located at the middle of the base  10 . Alternatively, the rotation center of the top rod body  21  may be located at the middle and the front end of the base  10  to reduce the included angle between the bottom surface of the base  10  and the top rod body  21 , and the included angle between the top rod body  21  and the base  10  is preferably less than or equal to 45°. When the seat  100  is installed on the vehicular seat, the terminal end of blocking fixing portion  214 , the rotation center of top rod body  21 , and the vehicular seat together form a tripod-shaped structure to stabilize the seat  100 . Referring to  FIG.  2   , the terminal end of top rod body  21 , i.e., the terminal end of blocking fixing portion  214 , is higher than the rear edge of the base of the seat  100  to further enhance the safety of the seat  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the terminal end of top rod body  21  upwardly bends and extends, i.e., blocking fixing portion  214  to bend upward relative to the front half of top rod body  21 ; hence, the contact area between the blocking fixing portion  214  and the back of the vehicular seat increases, thereby augmenting mechanical strength of the top rod body  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the top rod body  21  includes a rotating portion  211  rotatably configured on the base  10 , two rotation arms  212  coupled to the rotating portion  211  and flanking the base  10 , and a blocking transverse arm  213  coupled to terminal ends of two rotation arms  212 . The blocking transverse arm  213  and the terminal ends of two rotation arms  212  form a blocking fixing portion  214 . The embodiment is just an exemplary, and the structure of the top rod body  21  is subject to changes as needed. In this embodiment, the rotating portion  211  is rotatably configured on a rotating axle concentric with the rotating shaft  34 . Alternatively, the rotating portion  211  is directly rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the top rod body  21  further includes a mounting rod  215  coupled to the rotation arms  212 , and the locking element  22  is configured on the mounting rod  215 . Alternatively, the mounting rod  215  is coupled to the blocking transverse arm  213  or coupled to the rotation arms  212  and blocking transverse arm  213 . The terminal ends of rotation arms  212  bend by tilting upward. The mounting rod  215  is coupled to the bends of the two rotation arms  212 . The mounting rod  215  is substantially parallel to the blocking transverse arm  213 . The abovementioned is just an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the second clamping element  32  is coupled to the middle of the mounting rod  215 , and the locking element  22  is configured at the terminal end of second clamping element  32 , i.e., located at the middle of the mounting rod  215  as well. Alternatively, the locking element  22  is configured on a lateral edge of the mounting rod  215 . In another embodiment, the locking element  22  is directly configured on the rotation arms  212 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8    and  FIG.  10   , the locking element  22  includes a fittingly engaging element  221  and a first resilient element  222 . The fittingly engaging element  221  is movably configured on the top rod body  21  and snap-engaged with the fixedly engaging element  11 . The first resilient element  222  provides to the fittingly engaging element  221  a resilience force for fittingly, engagingly coupling to the fixedly engaging element  11 . The operating element  23  is coupled to the fittingly engaging element  221 . The operating element  23  is operated to controllably cause the fittingly engaging element  221  to separate from the fixedly engaging element  11 . The user may rotate the top rod body  21  until the top rod body  21  reaches the locked position, such that the fittingly engaging element  221  is driven by the first resilient element  222  to approach the fixedly engaging element  11  and fittingly, engagingly couple to the fixedly engaging element  11 , so as to lock the top rod body  21  to the locked position. 
     In this embodiment, the fittingly engaging element  221  is rotatably coupled to the top rod body  21 . When driven by the first resilient element  222  and operating element  23 , the fittingly engaging element  221  rotates relative to the top rod body  21  and thus fittingly engages with the fixedly engaging element  11  or separates from the fixedly engaging element  11 . The fittingly engaging element  221  includes a fixedly engaging end fittingly, engagingly coupled to the fixedly engaging element  11  and a connection end abuttingly coupled (or coupled by any other means as long as the operating element  22  can drive the rotation of the fixedly engaging element  11 ) to the operating element  22 . The embodiment is just an exemplary, and thus the locking element  22  is not restricted to the aforesaid structure. For example, the locking element  22  is directly, abuttingly, movably configured at the top rod body  21  and driven by the operating element  23  to fittingly engage with the fixedly engaging element  11  or separate from the fixedly engaging element  11 . Alternatively, the fittingly engaging element  221  is configured on the second clamping element  32  or seat  100 , for example, on the base  10  or first clamping element  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10   , the operating element  23  includes a press button resiliently mounted on the top rod body  21 . Alternatively, the operating element  23  is a push element or pull element rather than restricted to the aforesaid structure. In this embodiment, the operating element  23  and locking element  22  abut against and connect to each other and are driven by the first resilient element  222  to undergo position restoration. In some embodiments, the operating element  23  may also be fixedly coupled to the locking element  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  8   , in this embodiment, the fixedly engaging element  11  is a fixedly engaging groove, and the fittingly engaging element  221  is a fittingly engaging hook fittingly, engagingly coupled to the fixedly engaging groove. Alternatively, the fixedly engaging element  11  may be implemented by a hole, bump, fittingly engaging edge, and the locking element  22  may also have a corresponding bump, hole, or fittingly engaging platform. 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , the fixedly engaging groove further has therein a fixing cylinder (fixing rod)  12  rotatably configured in place. When the fittingly engaging element  221  and fixedly engaging element  11  are fittingly, engagingly coupled, the dent of the fittingly engaging hook comes into contact with the corresponding point on the fixing cylinder  12 ; hence, the fittingly engaging hook can be driven to exit the fixedly engaging groove by the operating element  23 . The outer surface of the fixing cylinder  12  matches the inner surface of the fittingly engaging hook to increase the stability of the fittingly engagement therebetween; their arcuate, matching surfaces not only reduce the wear and tear otherwise caused by the abutting engagement between the fixedly engaging groove and fittingly engaging hook but also allow the fittingly engaging hook to separate from the fixedly engaging groove easily. It also allows to reduce the friction of the fittingly engaging hook sliding out of the fixedly engaging groove when the fittingly engaging hook is inadvertently stuck. Alternatively, the fixing cylinder  12  may be a roller rotatably configured in place within the fixedly engaging groove. When the fittingly engaging hook exits the fixedly engaging groove, the fittingly engaging hook comes into contact with the roller and drives the roller to rotate to assist the fittingly engaging hook in separating from the fixedly engaging groove, thereby further reducing the friction of the fittingly engaging hook sliding out of the fixedly engaging groove. In other cases, the fixing cylinder  12  may have an arcuate fixing edge that matches the fittingly engaging element  221  rather than is restricted to the aforesaid embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  8   , a receiving chamber  13  is disposed at the base  10  of the seat  100  and corresponds in position to the locking element  22 . A resilient arm  14  is extended from one side of the receiving chamber  13 . A recess  15  for receiving the fittingly engaging hook (fittingly engaging element  221 ) is formed between an end portion of the resilient arm  14  and another side (opposite to the extending sidewall) of the receiving chamber  13 . The fixedly engaging groove (fixedly engaging element  11 ) is formed below the end portion of the resilient arm  14 . In this embodiment, the fixedly engaging element  11  is configured on the seat  100 , and the abovementioned constitutes only an exemplary of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the fixedly engaging element  11  is configured on the second clamping element  32  or top rod body  21 . In those embodiments, the fittingly engaging element  221  is configured on the base  10  of the seat  100 . 
     While the present invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention set forth in the claims.