Device for releasable attachments of objects to a mobile unit

• US 6,260,920 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Tolfsen, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/308,899
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.16, 297/256.1, 297/256.12, 297/253, 248/349.1
• US Class Current: 297/256.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/146 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2827 part of the base being supported by the seat sub-frame B60N2/2893 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2857 characterised by the peculiar orientation of the child B60N2/2869 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2869 rotatable about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2893 coupled to the seat sub-frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

Apparatus for the releasable attachment of objects such as a child'"'"'s seat to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first disk adapted to be fixed to the vehicle and a second disk adapted to be fixed to the child'"'"'s seat, the disks adapted to be coupled together and centered about a common axis of symmetry. The first disk includes a plurality of locking pins and the second disk includes a corresponding plurality of locking apertures such that the disks can be adjusted between a first relative position in which the locking pins and apertures are disengaged and a second relative position in which the locking pins and apertures are engaged, and an axial slidable core for adjusting the locking pins and apertures between these first and second relative positions.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the releasable attachment of an object to a movable unit, said apparatus comprising:

a first engagement member having a first guiding support surface adapted to be fixed to said movable unit, and

a second engagement member having a second guiding support surface adapted to cooperate with said first guiding support surface and to be fixed to said object,

whereby, when engaged with each others said first and second engagement members are adapted to be centered about a common axis of symmetry,

one of said first and second guiding support surfaces comprising an outer surface of one of said first and second engagement members and said other of said first and second guiding support surfaces comprising an inner surface of the other of said first and second engagement members,

said first engagement member including a plurality of first locking members and said second engagement member including a plurality of second locking members for cooperating with said plurality of said first locking members,

whereby said first and second engagement members can be adjusted between a first relative position in which said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of said second locking members are disengaged, and a second relative position in which said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of second locking members are lockingly engaged, and

a first adjustment member affixed to one of said first and second engagement members and second adjustment member affixed to the other of said first and second engagement members for adjusting said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of second locking members between said first and second relative positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one of said first and second guiding support surfaces defines a dome-shaped surface and said other of said first and second guiding support surfaces defines a cup-shaped surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one of said first and second guiding support surfaces comprises a first surface provided at an angle with respect to said axis of symmetry and a second surface provided substantially parallel to said axis of symmetry.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first surface has the shape of a conical jacket.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second surface has the shape of a cylindrical jacket.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of first locking members comprises a plurality of locking pins substantially radially projecting with respect to said axis of symmetry for engagement with said plurality of second locking members when said first and second engagement members are in said second relative position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of second locking members comprises a plurality of recesses corresponding to said plurality of locking pins.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first adjustment member comprises an axially movable member movable between an initial position and a depressed position, whereby said axially movable member can be in said depressed position when said first and second engagement members are in said first relative position and in said initial position when said first and second engagement members are in said second relative position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first adjustment member is associated with said first engagement member and said second adjustment member is associated with said second engagement member, said first engagement member including apertures means and said second engagement member including corresponding projection means, whereby when said first and second engagement members are engaged with each other and said projection means are not engaged in said aperture means, said projection means urges said axially movable member into said depressed position, and when said projection means are engaged in said aperture means said axially movable member is in said initial position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of first locking members are connected to said axially movable member whereby when said plurality of first locking members are disengaged from said plurality of second locking members said axially movable member is in said depressed position and when said plurality of first locking members are engaged with said plurality of second locking members said axially movable member is in said initial position.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second adjustment member includes a control handle, said control handle being engageable with said axially movable member whereby when said control handle is actuated to depress said axially movable member said plurality of first locking members is disengaged from said plurality of second locking members.

12. Apparatus for the releasable attachment of a child'"'"'s seat to a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a first engagement member having a first guiding support surface adapted to be affixed to said motor vehicle and a second engagement member having a second guiding support surface adapted to cooperate with said first guiding support surface and to be fixed to said child seat,

whereby, when engaged with each other, said first and second engagement members are adapted to be centered about a common axis of symmetry,

one of said first and second guiding support surfaces comprising an outer surface of one of said first and second engagement members and said other of said first and second guiding support surfaces comprise an inner surface of the other of said first and second engagement members,

said first engagement member including a plurality of first locking members and said second engagement member including a plurality of second locking members for cooperation with said plurality of first locking members,

whereby said first and second engagement members can be adjusted between a first relative position in which said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of second locking members are disengaged and a second relative position in which said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of second locking members are lockingly engaged,

a first adjustment member affixed to one of said first and second engagement members and a second adjustment member affixed to the other of said first and second engagement members for adjusting said plurality of first locking members and said plurality of second locking members between said first and second relative positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said other of said first and second engagement members includes a guiding groove along said inner surface, said guiding groove adapted for guiding said plurality of first locking members therealong whereby said first and second engagement members may be coupled together and rotated with respect to each other.