Support arrangement for a child seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099581-B2
Application number	US-201615134884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	Apr 28, 2015
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a support arrangement for a child seat. The support arrangement comprises a support column having an axial direction. The support column is adapted to transfer a collision load in the axial direction. The support column comprises, or is constituted by, at least one inflatable body. The support column is adapted to in an inflated state of the inflatable body extend in the axial direction between the child seat and a support surface. The disclosure further relates to a kit comprising the support arrangement and a child seat. The disclosure also relates to a method to control extension in an axial direction of a support arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support arrangement for a rearward-facing child seat, the support arrangement comprising:
a support column configured to transfer a collision load in an axial direction, the support column including at least one inflatable body, wherein the support column is configured to, in an inflated state of the at least one inflatable body, extend in the axial direction between the child seat and a support surface when the support arrangement is used with the child seat; and
a strap that is attachable to the support column and/or the child seat and having an active length that is used to control extension of the support column, or a portion thereof, in the axial direction.

2. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the support column comprises a child seat contacting portion, which is configured to support a seat back of the child seat, the support column having an extension in the axial direction adapted to span a distance between the seat back of the child seat and a vehicle floor when the at least one inflatable body is in the inflated state.

3. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the support column comprises a child seat contacting portion, which is configured to support a sitting portion of the child seat, the support column having an extension in the axial direction adapted to span a distance between the sitting portion of the child seat and a vehicle seat when the at least one inflatable body is in the inflated state.

4. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable body is configured to withstand an internal gas pressure above atmospheric pressure.

5. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable body comprises a plurality of gas chambers.

6. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable body has a one-walled or two-walled cross-section.

7. The support arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the cross-section has a circular, elliptic, annular, square, rectangular or other polygonal shape.

8. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the strap is attachable to, or attached to, the support column.

9. The support arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the strap is attachable to, or attached to, the support column at a first attachment site and at a second attachment site spaced apart from each other, the active length of the strap being accommodated between the first and second attachment sites,
a first distance between the first and second attachment sites being determined along a surface of the support column,
a second distance between the first and second attachment sites being determined as a shortest distance in the axial direction between the first and second attachment sites,
the first distance being larger than or equal to the second distance,
the active length of the strap determining the second distance.

10. The support arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing structure attached to the support column and configured to extend in the axial direction when the inflatable body is in the inflated state.

11. The support arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the reinforcing structure is located inside the support column.

12. The support arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a child seat portion forming an integral unit with the support column.

13. The support arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the child seat portion is at least partly inflatable.

14. A kit comprising a rearward-facing child seat and the support arrangement according to claim 1 .

15. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the child seat is at least partly inflatable.

16. The kit according to claim 15 wherein the at least one inflatable body of the support arrangement is in fluid connection with the inflatable child seat.

17. A method to control extension in an axial direction of a support arrangement for a rearward-facing child seat, the method comprising:
inflating an inflatable body of a support column of the support arrangement with a gas pressure above atmospheric pressure;
controlling extension of the support column, or a portion thereof, in the axial direction by an active length of a strap that is attached to the support column and/or the child seat.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the inflating is performed using an inflation means, and wherein shape of the support column is configured to enable the support column to extend in the axial direction when inflated.

19. The support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the support column comprises an outer wall that surrounds the at least one inflatable body, and wherein the outer wall is shaped to enable the support column to extend in the axial direction when the at least one inflatable body is in the inflated state.

20. A support arrangement for a rearward-facing child seat, the support arrangement comprising:
a support column configured to transfer a collision load in an axial direction, the support column including at least one inflatable body, wherein the support column is configured to, in an inflated state of the at least one inflatable body, extend in the axial direction between the child seat and a support surface when the support arrangement is used with the child seat; and
a reinforcing structure attached to the support column and configured to extend in the axial direction when the inflatable body is in the inflated state.

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Hjerpe Erik

Classifications

• B60N2/2821

  having a seat and a base part · CPC title

• B60N2/2863

  backward facing · CPC title

• B60N2/2875

  inclinable, as a whole or partially · CPC title

• B60N2/2884 Primary

  with protection systems against abnormal g-forces · CPC title

• B60N2/26 Primary

  for children (B60N2/30 takes precedence) · CPC title