Chassis as well as a child vehicle seat provided with such a chassis

• US 7,328,946 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Maxi Miliaan BV
• Inventors: Constant Dikhoff, Hans, Hendrikus Van Montfort, Donald, Johan Van Geer, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US11/407,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 297/253, 297/256.16, 297/256.1
• US Class Current: 297/253
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2824 part of the base being supported by the vehicle frame B60N2/289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A chassis which is suitable for supporting a child vehicle seat is provided with a frame as well as with connectors that can be detachably connected in use to securing elements that are present in a vehicle. The chassis is further provided with an unlocking mechanism for releasing the engagement between the connector and the securing element. The chassis is provided with a slide for supporting the child vehicle seat, which slide is movable with respect to the frame from a first position, in which the slide is positioned at a relatively large distance from the connector, to a second position, in which the slide is positioned closer to the connector. The slide is locked against movement from the second position to the first position when at least one connector is connected to the securing element.

Claims

1. A chassis suitable for supporting a child vehicle seat, which chassis is provided with

a frame comprising

at least one connector, which connector can be detachably connected in use to at least one securing element present in a vehicle,

which chassis is further provided with

an unlocking mechanism for releasing the engagement between the connector and the securing element,

as well as with

a slide for supporting the child vehicle seat, which slide is

detachably connectable with the child vehicle seat and is

movable with respect to the frame in the position in which the connector is connected to the securing element, from a first position, in which the slide is positioned at a relatively large distance from the connector, to a second position, in which the slide is positioned closer to the connector, and vice versa, with the slide being

locked against movement from the second position to the first position when the connector is connected to the securing element, characterized in that all the connectors are connected to

a common releasing mechanism, which allows movement of the slide from the first position to the second position once all the connectors are connected to securing elements;

and wherein the child vehicle seat, when connected with the slide, moves with the slide as the slide moves from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

2. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that all the connectors are connected to the common unlocking mechanism which, when operated, allows movement of the slide from the second position to the first position.

3. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that all the connections between the connectors and the securing elements can be released substantially simultaneously by means of the unlocking mechanism.

4. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that each connector is connected to the releasing mechanism via a lever.

5. A chassis according to claim 4, characterized in that the releasing mechanism comprises a shaft that rotates about the central axis, which shaft is provided with a recess near the slide, in which recess a pin that is connected to the slide is positioned in the disconnected position of the connectors, whilst the shaft can be rotated about the central axis by means of the levers in the connected position of the connectors, enabling the pin to be moved out of the recess and the slide to be moved from the first position to the second position.

6. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the chassis is provided with a ratchet mechanism comprising a rack and a cam that is in engagement with said rack, the frame being provided with the rack and the slide being provided with the cam, or vice versa, by means of which ratchet mechanism the slide can be moved with respect to the frame from the first position to the second position, whilst the cam locks the slide against movement from the second position to the first position.

7. A chassis according to claim 6, characterized in that the cam can be moved out of engagement with the rack by means of the unlocking mechanism, in which position the slide can be moved from the second position.

8. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the unlocking mechanism is provided with at least one indicator that functions to indicate whether or not all the connectors are disconnected from or connected to securing elements.

9. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the unlocking mechanism is disposed near a side of the frame remote from the connectors.

10. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is provided with a supporting leg on a side remote from the connector, which supporting leg is pivotally connected to the frame.

11. A chassis according to claim 10, characterized in that the supporting leg is provided with at least one indicating means at one end, which indicating means functions to indicate whether a predetermined minimum force is being exerted on one end of the supporting leg.

12. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide comprises a base element, to which a child vehicle seat can be detachably connected.

13. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide is locked against movement from the second position to the first position in the position in which all the connectors are connected to securing elements.

14. A chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide is locked against movement from the first position of the second position in the position in which the connector is disconnected from the securing element.

15. A chassis according to claim 14, characterized in that the slide is locked against movement from the first position to the second position in the position in which all the connectors are disconnected form the securing elements.

16. A child vehicle seat provided with a chassis according to claim 1.

17. A chassis according to claim 1 wherein the slide includes a base element wherein the child vehicle seat is detachably connectable with the slide by being detachably connectable to the base element.