Seat base with load leg

• US 6,817,665 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Pacella, Jonathan M., Carpenter, Jason A., Longenecker, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US10/120,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.16, 297/216.11, 297/250.1, 403/374.1, 403/374.2, 403/374.3, 403/109.5
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• 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 2/2827 part of the base being supported by the seat sub-frame B60N2/2893 takes precedence

Abstract

In order to facilitate child seat installment in a vehicle and to improve performance of a child seat during front impact vehicular collisions, a seat arrangement is provided that includes a seat base into which the child seat can be detachably connected and a load leg pivotally mounted at one end of the base. The load leg is provided with a telescopic length adjustment, which allows the length of the load leg to be adjusted and then to be securely locked at a selected length. The top end of the load leg is provided with a fold latch arrangement which automatically engages when the load leg is rotated from a stored position to an operative one. This arrangement has a push-button type release feature to facilitate easy folding. Alligator clamp-like members (one on either side of the seat base) are provided at the other end of the base to clamp the seat belt, which is used to secure the base to a vehicle seat cushion, and to prevent the belt from slipping in its axial direction.

Claims

1. A seat arrangement comprising:

a seat base to which a seat can be selectively engaged and disengaged;

a load leg extending from one end of the seat base for engaging a vehicle floor, the load leg being pivotally mounted to the seat base and being adjustable in length;

a latch mechanism associated with the load leg to permit the load leg to be locked at a selected length; and

a lock off device for a seat belt, the lock off device including;

an inner member fixed to a surface of the seat base; and

an outer member having one end immovably integral with one end of the inner member and superimposed over the inner member so that a tapering clearance, into which a seat belt webbing can be easily slid, is established between a free end of the outer member and a corresponding end of the inner member

wherein the load leg has a housing, and the latch mechanism has at least one pivotal latch member which selectively engages in openings formed in a strut reciprocatively mounted in the housing.

2. A seat arrangement comprising:

a seat base to which a seat can be selectively engaged and disengaged;

a load leg extending from one end of the seat base for engaging a vehicle floor, the load leg being pivotally mounted to the seat base;

a fold latch arrangement which holds the load leg in an operative position until manually released; and

a lock off device for a seat belt, the lock off device including;

an inner member fixed to a surface of the seat base; and

an outer member having one end immovably integral with one end of the inner member and superimposed over the inner member so that a tapering clearance, into which a seat belt webbing can be easily slid, is established between a free end of the outer member and a corresponding end of the inner member.

3. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fold latch arrangement comprises a lock member which protrudes through an opening formed in the seat base and which locks the load leg against pivotal movement until manually depressed to a level whereat engagement between the lock member and the seat base is absent.

4. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a selectively releasable latch mechanism associated with the load leg to permit the load leg to be locked at a selected length.

5. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lock-off device is adapted to clamp the seat belt webbing against movement in its axial direction.

6. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the load leg is provided with a foot having a curved surface adapted to rest on a curved surface of a transmission tunnel hump of a vehicle.

7. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the load leg has a housing and at least one telescopically mounted strut which is slidably received in the housing.

8. A seat arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one telescopically mounted strut comprises a pair of struts which are slidably received in the housing.

9. A seat arrangement comprising:

a seat base to which a seat can be selectively engaged and disengaged;

a load leg extending from one end of the seat base for engaging a vehicle floor, the load leg being pivotally mounted to the seat base;

a fold latch arrangement which holds the load leg in an operative position until manually released; and

a lock off device for a seat belt, the lock off device including;

an inner member fixed to a surface of the seat base; and

an outer member having one end immovably integral with one end of the inner member and superimposed over the inner member so that a seat belt receiving clearance is established between a free end of the outer member and a corresponding end of the inner member.