Car seat

• US 10,500,990 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2019
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pidyon Controls Inc
• Original Assignee: Pidyon Controls Inc
• Inventors: Cohen, Yochanan, Van Scoyoc, Velissa, Becene, Ahmet, Grant, Alexis, Duke, Steven Roy, Kravchenko, Ekaterina
• Primary Examiner(s): Agudelo, Paola
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barlow, Adam G
• Application Number:
  US16/289,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20190193606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 2972161, 29721611, 2972501, 29721613, 29721614, 29721616
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2818 characterised by guiding means for children belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2845 having handles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/54 using mechanical springs

Abstract

Embodiments of a car seat include an outer protective shell, an inner seat, a suspension system connecting and permitting relative movement between the inner seat and the outer protective shell. The suspension system may include a plurality of deformable webs. Also, at least one padding element may be in contact with and interposed between the outer protective shell and the inner seat. In an accident, regardless of the direction in which the seat is facing and regardless of whether the result is a sudden acceleration and/or deceleration, the inner seat will move inside the frame, and the suspension system will absorb some, much, or all of the energy either by elastic or plastic deformation. Energy not absorbed by the suspension system may be absorbed by the inner seat itself and/or an anchor system used to connect the car seat to a vehicle.

Claims

1. A car seat for an occupant, comprising:

a) a unitary inner seat having a seat portion and a back portion continuous with said seat portion thereby preventing relative rotation between said back portion and said seat portion;

b) an outer protective shell having a front wall, a back wall, and opposing side walls extending around and protecting said inner seat, said outer protective shell configured to be connected to a vehicle; and

c) a suspension system coupling and permitting relative movement between said inner seat and said outer protective shell, said suspension system suspending said inner seat substantially within said outer protective shell between said front wall, back wall, and opposing side walls thereof,

wherein said suspension system includes at least a first and second flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and respective said opposing side walls of said outer protective shell, a third flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and said front wall of said outer protective shell, and a fourth flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and said back wall of said outer protective shell, where said first, second, third and fourth flexible and deformable members are elastically and plastically deformable such that each respective flexible and deformable member has a first at-rest state having a first length, a second elastically deformed state having a second length greater than its first length when said outer protective shell is moving relative to said inner seat, and a third plastically deformed state having a third length greater than said second length, when the deformable member has exceeded its elastic load limit with said protective shell continuing to move relative to said inner seat but before said inner seat hits said outer shell.

2. The car seat according to claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible and deformable members connected between said inner seat and said opposing side walls of said outer protective shell are connected to a buttocks area of said inner seat.

3. The car seat according to claim 1, wherein said third flexible and deformable member connected between said front wall of said outer protective shell and said inner seat is connected to a leg area of said inner seat.

4. A car seat for an occupant, comprising:

a) an inner seat having a seat portion and a back portion;

b) an outer protective shell having a front wall, a back wall, and opposing side walls extending around and protecting said inner seat, said outer protective shell configured to be connected to a vehicle; and

c) a suspension system coupling and permitting relative movement between said inner seat and said outer protective shell, said suspension system suspending said inner seat substantially within said outer protective shell between said front wall, back wall, and opposing side walls thereof,

wherein said suspension system includes at least a first and second flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and respective said opposing side walls of said outer protective shell, a third flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and said front wall of said outer protective shell, and a fourth flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and said back wall of said outer protective shell, where said first, second, third and fourth flexible and deformable members are elastically and plastically deformable such that each respective flexible and deformable member has a first at-rest state having a first length, a second elastically deformed state having a second length greater than its first length when said outer protective shell is moving relative to said inner seat, and a third plastically deformed state having a third length greater than said second length, when the deformable member has exceeded its elastic load limit with said protective shell continuing to move relative to said inner seat but before said inner seat hits said outer shell.

5. The car seat according to claim 4, wherein said first and second flexible and deformable members connected between said inner seat and said opposing side walls of said outer protective shell are connected to a buttocks area of said inner seat.

6. The car seat according to claim 4, wherein said third flexible and deformable member connected between said front wall of said outer protective shell and said inner seat is connected to a leg area of said inner seat.

7. A car seat for an occupant, comprising:

a) an inner seat having a seat portion and a back portion;

b) an outer protective shell having a front wall, a back wall, and opposing side walls extending around and protecting said inner seat, said outer protective shell configured to be connected to a vehicle; and

c) a suspension system coupling and permitting relative movement between said inner seat and said outer protective shell, said suspension system suspending said inner seat substantially within said outer protective shell between said front wall, back wall, and opposing side walls thereof,

wherein said suspension system includes at least one flexible and deformable member connected between said inner seat and said outer protective shell, where said at least one flexible and deformable member is elastically and plastically deformable and has a first at-rest state having a first length, a second elastically deformed state having a second length greater than its first length when said outer protective shell is moving relative to said inner seat, and a third plastically deformed state having a third length greater than said second length, when the deformable member has exceeded its elastic load limit with said protective shell continuing to move relative to said inner seat but before said inner seat hits said outer shell.