AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR ASSESSING VISIBILITY OF A CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE

• US 20060102411A1
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schleif, Kurt, Michel, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix

Abstract

An apparatus for assessing visibility of an anchorage disposed proximate a vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a mounting assembly adapted to engage a first anchorage and a laser adapted to project a beam toward a second anchorage. The mounting assembly is pivotable about the first anchorage to adjust an angle at which the beam is projected toward the second anchorage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assessing visibility of an anchorage disposed proximate a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting assembly adapted to engage a first anchorage; and

a laser adapted to project a beam toward a second anchorage and disposed proximate the mounting assembly;

wherein the mounting assembly is pivotable about the first anchorage to adjust an angle at which the beam is projected toward the second anchorage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a slot adapted to receive the first anchorage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the slot has a linear configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the slot further comprises a hook portion having a different orientation than an adjacent portion of the slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a latch mechanism having a groove disposed proximate the slot and a latch pin moveably disposed in the groove, the latch pin being adapted to move between a latched position in which the latch pin is disposed proximate the first anchorage and an unlatched position in which the latch pin is spaced apart from the first anchorage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the laser is a line generating laser configured to project a linear beam.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a first level disposed along a first axis and configured to indicate an orientation of the mounting assembly relative to a plane passing through the first and second anchorages.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust the orientation of the first axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a second level disposed along a second axis disposed perpendicular to the first axis and configured to indicate an orientation of the mounting assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the orientation of the second axis.

11. An apparatus for assessing visibility of an anchorage of a child restraint anchorage system disposed proximate a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting assembly including;

a first arm having a slot configured to engage a first anchorage;

a second arm disposed proximate the first arm;

a laser mount disposed proximate the second arm; and

an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust the position of the laser mount relative to the first anchorage; and

a laser disposed proximate the laser mount and adapted to project a beam toward a second anchorage.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises first and second adjustment rods disposed proximate the second arm, the first and second adjustment rods being adjustably positionable relative to the second arm and having first and second end portions, respectively, adapted to contact the seat.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a first level disposed proximate the second arm and configured to indicate an orientation of the second arm relative to a plane disposed parallel to the first and second anchorages.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a second level disposed proximate the laser mount.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the laser is a line generating laser configured to project a linear beam.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first arm is adapted to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the laser is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation to reconfigure the apparatus such that the slot is configured to engage the second anchorage and the laser is configured to project a beam toward the first anchorage.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first arm includes an arm engagement slot and a pin disposed within the arm engagement slot, and the second arm includes a hole adapted to receive the pin, wherein the arm engagement slot is configured to receive the second arm and the pin and hole cooperate to inhibit rotational movement of the second arm relative to the first arm.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second arm includes a pin and the first arm includes an arm engagement slot adapted to receive the second arm and a hole disposed proximate the arm engagement slot, wherein the pin and hole cooperate to inhibit rotational movement of the second arm relative to the first arm.

19. A method for assessing the visibility of an anchorage of a child restraint anchorage system disposed on vehicle with an apparatus having a mounting assembly adapted to engage a first anchorage and a laser adapted to project a beam toward a second anchorage, the method comprising:

engaging the mounting assembly to the first anchorage;

positioning the mounting assembly at a predetermined angle;

projecting the beam toward the second anchorage; and

determining whether the beam contacts the second anchorage.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second anchorage is visible from the predetermined angle if the beam contacts the second anchorage.