Vehicle child seat arrangement with selectively activated airbag

• US 5,992,879 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bogge, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US08/803,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 297/216.1, 180/273
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2824 part of the base being supported by the vehicle frame B60N2/289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes at least one vehicle seat to which a child seat mounted thereon can be fastened, with a device being provided for deactivating an airbag located in front of the seat when the child seat is mounted. In order for such a device to be capable of being retrofitted simply and economically even in existing standard vehicles, the device is composed of an additional tongue mounted on the child seat and a buckle that is actively connected with a central triggering unit, so that the airbag is deactivated when the tongue is inserted into the buckle and said airbag is reactivated when the tongue and buckle connection is broken.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle with at least one vehicle seat to which a child seat placed on said seat can be fastened, with a device being provided for deactivating an airbag located in front of the seat when the child seat is mounted, said child seat being secured to said vehicle seat via an adult seat belt system,

wherein said device is formed by an additionally provided tongue on the child seat and a buckle actively connected with a central triggering unit, said buckle being mounted on a cross member that extends transversely in front of the vehicle seat, with the airbag ahead of the child seat being deactivated when the tongue is inserted into the buckle and being reactivated when the tongue and buckle connection is broken.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the buckle comprises a switch connected by a connecting lead to the central triggering unit.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the additional tongue and the buckle of the child seat have dimensions different from those of tongues and buckles of the adult seat belt system.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the central triggering unit is configured to be reprogrammed when a child seat is used.

5. Motor vehicle with at least one vehicle seat to which a child seat placed on said seat can be fastened, with a device being provided for deactivating an airbag located in front of the seat when the child seat is mounted,

wherein said device is formed by an additionally provided tongue on the child seat and a buckle actively connected with a central triggering unit, with the airbag ahead of the child seat being deactivated when the tongue is inserted into the buckle and being reactivated when the tongue and buckle connection is broken, wherein the buckle is mounted on a cross member that extends transversely in front of the vehicle seat as viewed in the direction of travel, with the cross member having two ends which are bolted to corresponding seat runners.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the buckle is located in a central area of a transverse portion of the cross member, with a seat belt section extending between the buckle and the cross member being secured against lateral shifting in a transverse direction by a stop mounted on the cross member.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the buckle comprises a switch connected by a connecting lead to the central triggering unit.

8. Vehicle seat assembly comprising:

an adult passenger seat,

an adult seat belt restraint system for restraining an adult in said passenger seat;

a selectively usable child seat mountable on said passenger seat, said child seat being secured with said adult seat belt restraint system when mounted on said passenger seat;

a first detent member carried by said child seat,

and a second detent member connectable with an airbag actuation circuit, said second detent member being mounted on a cross member that extends transversely in front of the adult passenger seat,

wherein said first and second detent members are configured to be manually interengaged when said child seat is mounted on said passenger seat to thereby deactivate the airbag actuation circuit,

and wherein said first and second detent members are separate from said adult seat and said adult seat belt restraint system.

9. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein one of said detent members is a tongue and the other of said detent members is a buckle with an opening for insertion of said tongue.

10. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said detent members is connected to a flexible strap.

11. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein both of said detent members are connected to respective flexible straps.

12. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein said tongue is fixed to the child seat.

13. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said detent members is connected to a flexible strap.

14. Vehicle seat assembly according to claim 13, wherein both of said detent members are connected to respective flexible straps.

15. A child seat assembly which is selectively usable with a vehicle having an adult passenger seat, an adult passenger safety belt restraint system, and an airbag triggering circuit controlling an airbag disposed in front of the adult passenger seat, said child seat assembly comprising:

a selectably usable child seat mountable on said passenger seat, said child seat being secured with said adult passenger safety belt restraint system when mounted on said adult passenger seat,

a first detent member connected to the child seat, and

a second detent member detachably connectable with the airbag triggering circuit, said second detent member being mounted on a cross member that extends transversely in front of the adult passenger seat,

wherein said first and second detent members are configured to be manually interengaged when said child seat is mounted on said passenger seat to thereby deactivate the airbag actuation circuit,

and wherein said first and second detent members are separate from said adult seat and said adult passenger safety belt restraint system.

16. A child seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein said cross member is attachable by threaded members to a support structure for said adult passenger seat, said cross member controllably guiding a flexible strap member carrying said second detent member.

17. A child seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein one of said detent members is a tongue and the other of said detent members is a buckle with an opening for insertion of said tongue.

18. A child seat assembly according to claim 16, wherein one of said detent members is a tongue and the other of said detent members is a buckle with an opening for insertion of said tongue.