WO2010009482A2

WO2010009482A2 - Restraining support

Info

Publication number: WO2010009482A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2009/000065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alieza Combrink
Original assignee: Alieza Combrink
Priority date: 2008-07-18
Filing date: 2009-07-17
Publication date: 2010-01-21
Also published as: WO2010009482A3

Abstract

A restraining support (12) for a child on a vehicle seat (132) which allows the child to sit on the seat and which has a shoulder -engaging harness (80), connected to a back support structure, secured to a backrest (136) of the seat by means of a safety belt (138) of the vehicle.

Description

RESTRAINING SUPPORT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a support for restraining a child in position on a vehicle seat.

[0002] If a vehicle is in a collision or otherwise has to be stopped abruptly occupants of the vehicle can be exposed to considerable risk. The likelihood of injury is greater for a small child for, typically, a safety belt which is designed for use by an adult, is not really effective when used by a young child.

[0003] Various devices and proposals have been made to address the aforementioned aspects. In addition regulations exist in many countries to promote child safety inside a vehicle.

[0004] For a baby or a small child a shaped rigid seat is often employed. The seat is fixed by means of a safety belt or other mechanism to a vehicle seat and carries straps to secure the occupant to the seat. This type of arrangement does however have some drawbacks for it is not always easy to position the seat correctly and then to secure the seat to a vehicle seat. Also, an occupant of the rigid seat is somewhat elevated and this, in itself, can increase the risk of injury to the occupant under certain conditions.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a restraining support which can easily be used with a young child and which can be adjusted to ensure that the child is adequately restrained and supported, in a comfortable manner, on a vehicle seat. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a restraining support which includes back structure with a front side and a rear side, at least one securing formation on the back structure, engageable with a vehicle safety belt, thereby to secure the back structure to a backrest of a vehicle seat with the rear side in contact with an opposed surface of the backrest and a strap arrangement, engaged with the back structure, characterised in that the strap arrangement includes a first strap which is engaged with a first set of spaced formations in the back structure and which is formed into a first closed loop with a first strap portion on the front side of the back structure, a second strap which is engaged with a second set of spaced formations in the back structure and which is formed into a second closed loop with a second strap portion, on the front side of the back structure, which is spaced from the first strap portion, a first shoulder strap with a first shoulder strap end, which is engaged with the first strap portion, and a first shoulder strap free end, a first fastener secured to the first shoulder strap free end, a second shoulder strap with a second strap end, which is engaged with the second strap portion, and a second shoulder strap free end, a second fastener secured to the second shoulder strap free end, a central strap with a central strap free end, and a retention device, secured to the central strap free end, which is releasably engageable with the first and second fasteners.

[0007] The first shoulder strap end may be slidable relative to the first strap portion. Similarly the second shoulder strap end may be slidable relative to the second strap portion.

[0008] The central strap is preferably fixed, at one end, to the first shoulder strap end and to the second shoulder strap end. This may be done in any appropriate way and for example use is made of a suitable connector. The connector is preferably anchored to the back structure, in an adjustable way. [0009] The restraining support may include an adjustment strap with an adjustment strap end which is fixed to the connector and an adjustment strap section which is engageable, at a selected position, with the back structure at an anchor location. An anchor device may be located at the anchor location, fixed to the back structure, and the adjustment strap section may be engaged with the anchor device in a slidable manner and, at a selected position, the anchor device may be locked to the adjustment strap section thereby to restrict further slidable movement.

[0010] The back structure may have opposed first and second ends and opposed third and fourth ends. Preferably the securing formation is a passage which extends through the back structure between the first and second ends which, in use, preferably extend vertically. The passage may be internally shaped to facilitate the vehicle safety belt, engaged with the passage, taking up a desired orientation or configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a view from a front side of back structure included in a restraining support according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a view from one end of the back structure of Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 shows the back structure from a rear side engaged with first and second straps, Figure 4 shows the back structure from a front side engaged with the first and second straps,

Figure 5 illustrates a harness from one side,

Figure 6 shows the harness from an opposing side,

Figure 7 shows the front side of the back structure with the harness of Figure 5 engaged with the first and second straps, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7, and Figure 9 illustrates the restraining support of the invention, in use.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a view in elevation of back structure 10 included in a restraining support 12, see Figures 7 and 8, according to the invention.

[0013] The back structure 10 is made from appropriate components e.g. a moulded plastics shell which is suitably upholstered to provide comfortable support for a user. This aspect is not further elaborated on.

[0014] Referring in addition to Figures 2 to 4 the back structure has a front side 14 with a central contour 16 which is suitably shaped to receive the back of a user, see Figure 9. The back structure also has a rear side 18, opposed first and second ends 20 and 22 respectively which, in use, extend substantially vertically, and opposed third and fourth ends 24 and 26 respectively which, in use, extend substantially horizontally.

[0015] Spaced fixing holes 30 and 32, and 34 and 36, are formed through the back structure near the third and fourth ends respectively. The holes 30 and 32 are close to the first end 20 while the holes 34 and 36 are close to the second end 22.

[0016] A strap arrangement 38, fixed to the back structure, includes first and second straps 40 and 42 respectively which are passed through the pairs of holes 30 and 32, and 34 and 36, which act as fixing formations for the straps. The straps have first and second securing devices 46 and 48 respectively at their free ends which permit the free ends of each strap to be coupled to one another thereby to form the straps into respective closed loops 4OA and 42A. A first strap portion 50 of the first strap overlies the front side 14 of the back structure and a second strap portion 52 of the second strap 42, spaced horizontally from the first strap portion, overlies the front side 14, see Figure 4. The securing devices 46 and 48 and adjacent lengths of the first and second straps are located on the rear side 18, see Figure 3.

[0017] A passage 60, which is of relatively large dimensions, extends through the back structure from the first end 20 to the second end 22. An upper side wall 62 of the passage, which is normally obscured from view and which for this reason is shown in dotted outline in the relevant drawings, extends downwardly from the first end to an apex 64 and then upwardly to the second end.

[0018] An anchor device 70 is fixed to the rear side 18 at an anchor location 72 near the fourth end 26 at a central position. The anchor location is opposed by a hole 74 near the third end 24 which passes through the back structure.

[0019] Figure 5 illustrates a harness 80 which forms part of the strap arrangement 38. The harness includes a first shoulder strap 82, a second shoulder strap 84 and a central strap 86. A connector 88 is used to connect a central strap end 90 to a first shoulder strap end 92 of the first shoulder strap and to a second shoulder strap end 94 of the second shoulder strap. A first fastener 96 is secured to a free end 98 of the first shoulder strap 82. Similarly a second fastener 100 is secured to a free end 102 of the second shoulder strap 84.

[0020] A retention device 106, secured to a free end 108 of the central strap, is releasably engageable with the first and second fasteners 96 and 100. The fasteners can be disengaged from the retention device by pressing on a release button 110. This type of arrangement is known in the art and for this reason is not further described herein.

[0021] A first eyelet 112 is formed by the connector 88 at the location at which the first shoulder strap end 92 is secured to the connector. A second eyelet 114 is formed on an opposing side of the connector at a location at which the second shoulder strap end 94 is secured to the connector. [0022] Figure 7 illustrates the restraining support 12 from what, in use, is a front side. The first strap portion 50 is passed through the eyelet 112 and the second strap portion 52 is passed through the second eyelet 114. In this way the harness is slidably attached to the first and second straps.

[0023] An adjustment strap 116, see Figures 7 and 8, has an adjustment strap end 118 which is fixed, indirectly, to the central strap end 90 by means of the connector 88. The adjustment strap 116 is passed through the hole 74 and is pulled upwardly on the rear side of the back structure to engage with the anchor device 70. The anchor device has a clip formation, known in the art, which can be released to allow a free end 120 of the adjustment strap to pass through the anchor device and then to be moved, with a sliding action, to a selected position. The clip device is then actuated to engage with a section 120A of the adjustment strap and so lock the adjustment strap to the anchor location in a highly effective and secure manner. (The adjustment strap 116 is not shown in Figures 5 and 6).

[0024] The first and second shoulder straps 82 and 84 can, themselves, be adjustable in length, by the inclusion of suitable adjustment mechanisms 122 and 124 respectively. These mechanisms are known in the art and for this reason are not further described herein.

[0025] Figure 9 illustrates a child 130 who has been strapped to the restraining support 12. The restraining support is designed to be used with a vehicle seat 132 which has a seat rest 134 and a backrest 136. A safety belt 138 of the vehicle is used to secure the restraining support in position. Typically the safety belt is a three-anchor belt and includes a lower portion 140 which extends more or less horizontally from an anchor point, not shown, an upper portion 142 which extends diagonally from an upper anchor point 144, and a clip formation 146 at a junction of the portions 140 and 142 which is engageable with corresponding clip structure, not shown, to secure the safety belt in position. These aspects are, as has been indicated, known in the art and are not described. [0026] The portions 140 and 142 of the safety belt are passed through the passage 60 from the first end 20 to the second end 22 (in this example). This action is facilitated by the shaped side wall 62 of the passage which generally follows the slope of the portion 142. A similar situation prevails if the portion 142 is inserted from the right to the left through the passage i.e. sloping downwardly, with the support 12 at an opposed end of the vehicle seat. The clip formation 146 is then secured in position. In this way the back structure is firmly secured to the vehicle seat with the rear side 18 facing and in contact with an opposed surface of the backrest 136. The child 130, who is seated on the seat rest 134, is then fixed to the restraining support by passing the first and second shoulder straps 82 and 84 over corresponding shoulders of the child. The central strap 86 is positioned between the child's legs and the retention device 106 is engaged with the first and second fasteners 96 and 100 respectively. The child is thereby firmly secured in position in a safe, effective and comfortable manner. As has been noted the lengths of the shoulder straps 82 and 84 can be adjusted, as necessary. A further adjustment is provided by moving the adjustment strap 116 along the anchor device 72. This moves the upper portions of the shoulder straps upwardly or downwardly. The effective length of the central strap 86, between the connector 88, and the retention device 106. is also effectively altered but any slack or tension thereby created is readily taken care of by adjusting the engagement of the central strap with the retention device.

[0027] The restraining support of the invention can be used in practically any vehicle with a suitable safety belt or other anchoring system. It is capable of significant adjustment to cater for children of different sizes and shapes, in a safe manner. It is readily secured to a vehicle seat and, once in position, does not unduly protrude into the space adjacent the vehicle seat. A child secured to the restraining support sits on the seat rest 134, is not elevated, and is afforded substantial security.

Claims

1. A restraining support (12) which includes back structure (10) with a front side (14) and a rear side (18), at least one securing formation (60) on the back structure, engageable with a vehicle safety belt (138), thereby to secure the back structure (10) to a backrest (136) of a vehicle seat (132) with the rear side (18) in contact with an opposed surface of the backrest (136), and a strap arrangement (38) engaged with the back structure characterised in that the strap arrangement includes a first strap (40) which is engaged with a first set of spaced formations (30, 32) in the back structure and which is formed into a first closed loop (40A) with a first strap portion (50) on the front side of the back structure, a second strap (42) which is engaged with a second set of spaced formations

(34, 36) in the back structure and which is formed into a second closed loop (42A) with a second strap portion (52), on the front side of the back structure, which is spaced from the first strap portion, a first shoulder strap (82) with a first shoulder strap end (92), which is engaged with the first strap portion (50), and a first shoulder strap free end (98), a first fastener (96) secured to the first shoulder strap free end (98), a second shoulder strap (84) with a. second shoulder strap end (94), which is engaged with the second strap portion (52), and a second shoulder strap free end (102), a second fastener (100) secured to the second shoulder strap free end (102), a central strap (86) with a central strap free end (108), and a retention device (106), secured to the central strap free end (108), which is releasably engageable with the first and second fasteners (96, 100).

2. A restraining support according to claim 1 wherein the first shoulder strap end (92) is slidable relative to the first strap portion (50) and the second shoulder strap end (94) is slidable relative to the second strap portion (52).

3. A restraining support according to claim 1 or 2 which includes a connector (88) which fixes an end (90) of the central strap to the first shoulder strap end (92) and to the second shoulder strap end (94).

4. A restraining support according to claim 3 which includes an adjustment strap (116) with an adjustment strap end (118), fixed to the connector (88), which is engageable, at a selected position, with the back structure at an anchor location (72).

5. A restraining support according to claim 4 wherein the anchor location (72) is on the rear side (18) of the back structure (10).

6. A restraining support according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the back structure (10) has opposed first and second ends (20, 22) and the securing formation is a passage (60) which extends through the back structure (10) between the first and second ends (20, 22).