Central-adjust soft-back vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259357-B2
Application number	US-201615071697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A passenger seat is described for use with a vehicle seat and includes, a base, an attachment assembly, a restraint assembly, and a non-rigid back. The base includes a central front opening. The attachment assembly includes a plurality of straps, which are configured to adjustably secure the base to the vehicle seat. The restraint assembly includes a shoulder strap assembly, a crotch strap assembly, and an adjustment strap. The adjustment strap is in communication with the shoulder strap assembly, extending from the shoulder strap assembly through the base and out of the central front opening of the base. The adjustment strap assembly is configured to adjust the shoulder strap assembly in response to translation of the adjustment strap through the central front opening of the base. The back encompasses at least a portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A passenger seat for use with an existing vehicle seat comprising:
a base, wherein the base comprises a front adjustment opening;
an attachment assembly, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a plurality of straps, wherein the plurality of straps are configured to adjustably secure the base to the vehicle seat;
a restraint assembly comprising a shoulder strap assembly, a crotch strap assembly, a Y-bracket, and an adjustment strap, wherein:
the shoulder strap assembly and the crotch strap assembly are configured to selectably fasten to each other to secure a passenger,
the Y-bracket coupling the adjustment strap to the shoulder strap assembly,
the adjustment strap extends from the shoulder strap assembly through the base and out of the front adjustment opening of the base, and
the adjustment strap assembly is configured to adjust the shoulder strap assembly and the crotch strap assembly in response to translation of the adjustment strap through the front adjustment opening of the base;

an adjustment lock, wherein
the adjustment lock is disposed in the front adjustment opening of the base and is configured to receive the adjustment strap;
the adjustment lock is configured to permit the adjustment strap to translate freely in a first direction; and

the adjustment lock is configured to selectively lock translation of the adjustment strap in a second direction that is opposite the first direction;
a non-rigid back that at least partially encompasses at least a portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly, wherein the back wraps around the Y-bracket and the portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly, wherein the Y-bracket is enclosed inside the back, wherein the back is flexible and collapsible to promote stowability.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the back has an interior side, wherein the interior side is directly adjacent to at least a portion of each of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly.

3. The passenger seat of claim 2 , wherein the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly are slidable relative to the interior side of the back.

4. The passenger seat of claim 2 , wherein the back has an exterior side that is directly adjacent to the passenger when the passenger seat is in use.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment lock, wherein
the adjustment lock is disposed in the front adjustment opening of the base and is configured to receive the adjustment strap;
the adjustment lock is configured to permit the adjustment strap to translate freely in a first direction; and
the adjustment lock is configured to selectively lock translation of the adjustment strap in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

6. The passenger seat of claim 5 , wherein:
the adjustment lock comprises an actuator,
the actuator is responsive to user input between a first position and a second position,
the actuator is resiliently biased towards the first position, and
the adjustment lock is configured to selectively unlock translation of the adjustment strap in the second direction when the actuator is in the second position.

7. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein:
the crotch strap assembly comprises a crotch strap,
the base further comprises a first crotch hole, a second crotch hole, a first support portion associated with the first crotch hole, and a second support portion associated with the second crotch hole,
the crotch strap is configured to be received by either the first support portion or the second support portion,
the crotch strap has a first effective length when supported by the first support portion,
the crotch strap has a second effective length when supported by the second support portion, and
the second effective length is shorter than the first effective length.

8. The passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein:
a first distance is disposed between the first crotch hole and the first support portion,
a second distance is disposed between the second crotch hole and the second support portion, and
the second distance is greater than the first distance.

9. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the straps of the plurality of straps of the attachment assembly is of a different color than another one of the straps of the plurality of straps of the attachment assembly.

10. A collapsible restraining system, comprising:
a base defining a first adjustment opening and a second adjustment opening;
a Y-bracket;
a pair of shoulder straps, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein:
the first end of each shoulder strap is releasably secured to the base,
the second end of each shoulder strap is secured to the Y-bracket, and
the shoulder straps are configured to selectably restrain a passenger in a vehicle;

an adjustment strap, wherein
the adjustment strap comprises an actuation portion and an adjustment portion,
the actuation portion extends through the first adjustment opening and out the second adjustment opening, and
the adjustment portion is secured to the Y-bracket;

a non-rigid back that at least partially encompasses the Y-bracket, at least a portion of each of the pair of shoulder straps, and at least a portion of the adjustment portion of the adjustment strap, wherein the back includes a flexible material that forms a pocket where the Y-bracket is able to slide, wherein the back encircles the Y-bracket to facilitate translation movement within the back, wherein the back is slightly thicker than the shoulder straps; and
an adjustment lock, wherein
the adjustment lock is disposed in the second adjustment opening of the base,
the adjustment lock is configured to engage with the adjustment strap to permit unidirectional translation of the adjustment strap.

11. The collapsible restraining system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first adjustment opening and the second adjustment opening of the base are both positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the base,
the first adjustment opening is positioned adjacent to a rear end of the base, and
the second adjustment opening is positioned adjacent to a front end of the base.

12. The collapsible restraining system of claim 10 , wherein:
the Y-bracket comprises a generally triangular shape,
the Y-bracket further comprises two shoulder strap openings and a single adjustment strap opening,
each shoulder strap is coupled to one of the shoulder strap openings, and
the adjustment strap is coupled to the adjustment strap opening.

13. The collapsible restraining system of claim 10 , wherein Y-bracket is configured to simultaneously remove slack from each shoulder strap of the pair of shoulder straps in response to an operator pulling the actuation portion of the adjustment strap outwardly away from the base.

14. A method of adjusting a passenger seat in an vehicle seat within a vehicle, wherein the passenger seat comprises a base, a pair of shoulder straps, a crotch strap, an adjustment strap, a Y-bracket, a non-rigid back, one or more attachment straps, and an adjustment lock, wherein the base comprises a first crotch opening, a second crotch opening, and a front adjustment opening, and wherein the back substantially surrounds at least part of each shoulder strap and at least part of the adjustment strap, the method comprising:
uncollapsing the non-rigid back, wherein the back is flexible;
placing the base on the vehicle seat;
attaching the base to the vehicle seat with the attachment straps so that the back extends upward;
positioning a passenger on the base;
attaching each shoulder

Assignees

• Indiana Mills & Mfg

Inventors

• Dingman Guy R
• Boyer Jason
• Blake Rachael

Classifications

• A47D15/006

  in chairs · CPC title

• B60N2/2809

  with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2002/2896

  the child seat being foldable, e.g. to facilitate transport · CPC title

• B60N2/2812 Primary

  for securing the child to the child seat · CPC title

• B60N2/2881

  Upholstery, padded or cushioned members therefor · CPC title