Child seat

• US 20040251721A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Ryoichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2851 provided with head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2872 provided with side rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2072 in children's seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26005 the inflation fluid being transferred to the inflatable member by the mechanical deformation of the fluid container during an impact

Abstract

A child seat includes a seat body having a seat portion, a rear portion, and left and right side panels; airbags to be inflated at sides of a head of a child; and hollow cushions disposed along inner surfaces of the side panels. When an automobile equipped with the child seat collides, the airbags are inflated at the sides of the head of the child, so that an impact applied to the head is absorbed. Furthermore, the cushions absorb a large impact from sides in a side collision and the like. The cushions are preferably disposed below regions where the airbags are inflated. The cushions receive a part of the child other than the head to absorb the impact.

Claims

1. A child seat for protecting a child, comprising:

a seat body having a seat portion, a rear portion, and left and right side panels,

an airbag to be inflated at a side of a head of the child, and

a cushion having a hollow body disposed on an inner surface of at least one of the side panels.

2. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein said cushion is disposed below an area where the airbag is inflated.

3. A child seat according to claims 1, wherein said airbag is inflated only at the side of the head of the child.

4. A child seat according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting an automobile collision, and gas supplying means for inflating the airbag in response to a detection signal from the sensor.

5. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein said cushion is filled with the gas to be supplied to the airbag.

6. A child seat according to claim 5, wherein said cushion includes a gasbag filled with the gas.

7. A child seat according to claim 6, wherein said gasbag includes gas discharging means for discharging the gas in the gasbag toward the airbag when a gas pressure inside the gasbag exceeds a predetermined value.

8. A child seat according to claim 7, wherein said gasbag includes a check valve for preventing the gas from flowing from the airbag to the gasbag.

9. A child seat according to claim 5, wherein said airbag and said cushion are disposed on each of the left and right side panels such that the gases inside the cushions provided on the side panels are supplied to the airbags on the side panels.

10. A child seat according to claim 5, wherein said cushion includes shape-maintaining means for maintaining a shape of the cushion until a pressing force applied to the cushion reaches a predetermined value.

11. A child seat according to claim 10, wherein said shape-maintaining means includes a spacer.

12. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein said airbag includes inflation-shape regulating means for regulating a shape of the airbag in an inflated state.

13. A child seat according to claim 12, wherein said inflation-shape regulating means includes a tether strap.

14. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein said airbag includes venting means for discharging gas inside the airbag.

18. A child seat according to claim 1, wherein said cushion includes a plurality of cushion portions disposed on at least one of the side panels.

15. A child seat for protecting a child, comprising:

a seat body having a seat portion for seating the child, a rear portion, and left and right side panels, and

a cushion disposed on an inner surface of at least one of the side panels.

16. A child seat according to claim 15, wherein said cushion includes a gasbag filled with gas.

17. A child seat according to claim 16, wherein said gasbag includes venting means for discharging the gas inside the gasbag when a gas pressure inside the gasbag exceeds a predetermined value.

19. A child seat according to claim 15, wherein said cushion includes a plurality of cushion portions disposed on at least one of the side panels.