WO2014202959A1 - Car safety system - Google Patents

Car safety system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2014202959A1
WO2014202959A1 PCT/GB2014/051851 GB2014051851W WO2014202959A1 WO 2014202959 A1 WO2014202959 A1 WO 2014202959A1 GB 2014051851 W GB2014051851 W GB 2014051851W WO 2014202959 A1 WO2014202959 A1 WO 2014202959A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
infant
safety system
car safety
base unit
removable
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2014/051851
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Richard Knight
Original Assignee
Systematic Strategy Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Systematic Strategy Ltd filed Critical Systematic Strategy Ltd
Publication of WO2014202959A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014202959A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2821—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle having a seat and a base part
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2842—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle adapted to carry the child, when dismounted from the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2884—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2887—Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an infant carrying system comprising an impact resistant base shell for attaching to a seat of a car and a removable insert into which an infant may be inserted.
  • the removable insert may comprise one or more straps to allow the infant to be carried by a person and may be adapted to be attached to a pushchair or pram frame.
  • Infant car safety seats have conventionally been constructed to be attached to the seat of a car using the seat belt of the car or automobile, or using the internationally recognised Isofix attachment system. They are large, bulky items often weighing many kilos. Often they are removable from the car and may be carried using a handle attached to the car seat, but their bulk and weight makes this difficult. Moreover, infants grow out of the car seats which means that several car seats may be needed as the infant grows older.
  • EP 1175858 discloses a sling with carrying handles to allow an infant to be removed from a seat.
  • EP 1837230A discloses a more complex arrangement comprising a removable car safety seat with a removable infant sling.
  • the invention provides a car safety system comprising a base unit and removable infant carrier wherein: the base unit is adapted to be attached to the seat of a vehicle, the base unit comprising a crash resistant shell to provide protection to an infant placed in the car safety system in the event of an accident to the vehicle; and the infant carrier is adapted to be releasably attached to the base unit with an infant in the infant carrier and comprises an infant restraint harness to restrain an infant attached to the infant carrier.
  • the systems comprises a plurality of removable infant carriers, each carrier adapted to receive an infant of a different size.
  • the infant carrier may be adjustable lengthways to allow infants of different sizes to be carried.
  • the infant restraint harness may be a conventional three or five point harness of the types conventionally used within car safety systems.
  • the position where the harness is attached to the carrier may be adjustable to fit different sized infants.
  • the harness may comprise one or indeed two shoulder straps and one or more webs attached to the shoulder strap, which in use covers an area substantially below the armpit or scapula of the infant and the same or different web covers at least a part of or side of an abdomen of the infant, thereby limiting the ability of the infant to slide an arm or shoulder out of the strap.
  • Such systems are the subject of WO 2010/015842.
  • the harness may comprise a tensioner to reduce slack in at least a part of the harness, for example when the infant carrier is removed from the base unit.
  • the tensioner may be spring operated.
  • the tensioner may comprise a locking system to prevent it extending too far. This may be automatic or operable by the carer.
  • the locking system may comprise a lever and ratchet to assist in removing excess slack.
  • One or more attachment points may be attached to the base unit or removable infant carrier and one or more complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier or the base unit may be provided to attach the removable infant carrier to the base unit.
  • the attachment points may comprise, for example, one or more slotted rails mounted on the base unit or the infant carrier adapted to receive a complementary attachment mounted on the infant carrier or base unit, capable of sliding along the rail.
  • the rail may comprise, for example, a slot with a T-shaped cross section.
  • the complementary attachment may therefore be a T-shaped piece which is adapted to slot into and slide along the T-shaped cross section of the rail.
  • the rail may have a generally T-shaped cross section and the complementary attachment may comprise a T-shaped slot through which the rail may slide.
  • Alternative systems for attaching the carrier to the base may also be used.
  • the attachment point may comprise a lock to lock the complementary attachment in a predetermined position.
  • the lock may comprise a visual indicator confirming that the attachment is locked in the predetermined position. This may, for example, be in the form of a raised coloured portion to indicate that the lock is in position.
  • the car safety system may comprise a plurality of locks releasable by a single release point. For example, pulling a lever at a single point to release the entire releasable infant carrier allows the infant to be removed from the base unit more easily.
  • the rail may be mounted on the removable infant carrier or alternatively may be mounted on the base unit. Pairs of attachment points or complementary attachments may be provided.
  • the infant carrier and base unit may comprise one or more complementary positioning mouldings or attachments to guide and align the insertion of the carrier onto the rails.
  • the attachment points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier may be provided mounted on wings extending from opposing edges of the removable infant carrier.
  • the wings may be hinged along the edge of the removable infant carrier.
  • the wings may be along the length of the removable infant carrier, positioned so that they are along at least a part of the direction of the body of the infant when in use.
  • the attachments points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier may be used to attach the removable infant carrier to one or more other accessories, for example to one or more straps to allow the removable infant carrier to be carried.
  • the attachment points or complementary attachments in the removable infant carrier may be used, for example, to attach the removable infant carrier to a frame of a pushchair or pram. This allows the removable infant carrier to be removed from the car without removing the infant and placed on a pushchair or pram, for example by engaging the attachment points with complementary attachments on the pushchair or pram. This reduces the amount of weight needed to be carried.
  • the invention therefore also provides a car safety system according to the invention, additionally comprising a wheeled frame adapted to receive the removable infant carrier to form a pushchair or pram.
  • the infant carrier may additionally be adapted to be mounted on an airline seat by provision of one or more points for attachment to an airline seat belt. This allows the carrier to be used on an airline seat. This may be facing forwards or rearward facing.
  • the removable infant carrier comprises a backing on which the infant is placed.
  • the backing may be substantially rigid or flat to allow a neonate to be carried.
  • the carrier may alternatively comprise a flexible backing having an adjustable support which is moveable, for example by means of a cam, to adjust the curve of the surface on which the infant is place.
  • the backing may also be adapted to be flexible to match the curve of the spine of an infant placed therein, to allow a more comfortable seating position.
  • the backing may be designed to flex in the direction of the curve of the spine of the infant but not substantially in the opposite direction away from the infant. This means that the backing plate may be allowed to flex between a curved position along the spine of the infant and a substantially flat position, but not beyond that flat position.
  • the backing plate may comprise, for example, a plurality of articulated plates which allow the removable infant carrier to flex in the direction of the spine of an infant placed in the removable infant carrier, but also providing protection to the infant.
  • the articulated plates may flex in a manner similar to that of the tail of a lobster.
  • Such flexible systems made out of substantially rigid articulated plates are generally known in the art in the form of body armour for use in extreme sports to prevent injury to, for example, the spine when a person is skiing or body boarding.
  • An example is shown in, for example, US 5,586,561.
  • the backing may comprise a resiliently flexible plastics material.
  • the removable infant carrier may comprise a back portion and the back portion may comprise a recess into which the head of an infant is placed. This provides support for the back of the infant's head.
  • the removable infant carrier may also comprise side panels extending from a back portion. The side panels assist in restraining the infant while the infant is being carried.
  • One or more handles may be arranged on the removable infant carrier to allow the infant carrier to be removed from the base unit with the infant in situ within the infant carrier.
  • the one or more handles may be attached to, for example, the sides of the removable infant carrier. For example, a pair of handles may be provided, one on each side of the infant.
  • a single, substantially rigid handle attached at each end to an opposite side respectively may be provided. This may be ratably moveable to allow the handle to be moved to a stowed position when not in use or to a position where it improves crash protection, for example, by preventing rotation of the carrier or by acting as a barrier.
  • One or more straps may be provided which may be arranged to allow an infant in the removable infant carrier to be mounted upon the front or back of a carer's torso.
  • a variety of different ways of mounting an infant on a carer through the use of straps are generally known in the art. See for example, EP 1,837,230, EP 1,175,858, FR 2,935,126 and US D664,351 S.
  • the straps may be, for example, mounted on a retractable mechanism, such as a roller. This allows, for example, the strap to be pulled from the roller and used by the carer to be used and withdrawn when not in use.
  • a retractable mechanism such as a roller. This allows, for example, the strap to be pulled from the roller and used by the carer to be used and withdrawn when not in use.
  • the straps may be removable.
  • the straps may be attached to one or more of the attachment points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier. Provision of attachment points or complementary attachments on wings on each side of the removable infant carrier allows, for example, the infant carrier to be attached to the base unit, but then have the attachment points flexed in a different direction to allow straps to be attached to those points in a different direction.
  • the removable infant carrier may additionally comprise a collapsible sunshade attached to it.
  • the collapsible sunshade may be, for example, a sheet of flexible material attached to a loop of wire which is hinged onto a fitting on the removable infant carrier to allow it to be open and closed.
  • the base unit may comprise a monocoque or safety shell.
  • the base unit typically comprises one or more safety features to reduce the risk of injury to an infant in the event of an accident to the vehicle.
  • this may comprise a resiliently flexible outer shell, a crumple zone, shock absorbent materials, such as foam or collapsible foams, or other materials, such as frangible carbon fibre shells, which absorb impacts on the base unit.
  • the car base unit comprises side panels on each side of the position of the infant. This provides protection to the infant in the event of a side impact. Additionally, panels may be provided at the head or foot end of the base unit.
  • a separate base unit and removable infant carrier allows a more structurally resilient base unit to be constructed, compared to prior art systems where it is desirable to have a light weight car seat which can be readily removed with the infant within the car seat.
  • the base unit may be adapted to allow it to be attached to the vehicle facing forwards in the direction of travel of the vehicle or facing backwards. Some carer prefer backward facing car safety seats for younger infants.
  • the base unit may comprise an accelerometer, such as an acceleration indicator to show that the base unit has been subjected to a crash.
  • acceleration indicators may be electrical or mechanically based. They are generally known in the art, and have been used in, for example, the packaging industry to indicate whether an article within packaging has been subjected to being dropped or otherwise mishandled during transit.
  • Figure 1 shows a side view of a base unit.
  • Figure 2 shows a side view of a removable carrier.
  • Figure 3 shows a front view of a base unit.
  • Figure 4 shows a detail of an attachment.
  • Figure 5 shows the back of a removable infant carrier.
  • Figure 6 shows an alternative back of an infant carrier.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of a base unit (10).
  • the base unit comprises a back (12), base (14), head side wings (16) and arm side wings (18).
  • the base unit (10) comprises a crash resilient material and is intended to protect the occupant of the car safety system in the event of an accident.
  • the base unit may comprise a resiliently deformable material, such as a foam or may comprise a material such as carbon fibre which breaks upon impact, thereby absorbing some or all of the crash force.
  • the base unit may be attached to a car seat for example, via the use of the seat belts provided within a vehicle.
  • the base unit may use an "Isofix” system (20).
  • Isofix is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars.
  • the system has various other regional names including "LATCH” in the United States and “LUAS” or “CANFIX” in Canada. It has also been called a universal child safety seat system. Additionally there may be a top tether strap or leg with the Isofix anchorage to further fix the base unit (10) to the vehicle.
  • FIG 2 shows a typical removable infant carrier (22).
  • the removable infant carrier comprises a carrier base (24) into which an infant (26) is placed.
  • the carrier base is shown in Figure 2 as comprising a rail or pair of rails (28), which comprise complementary attachments (40) for engaging the removable infant carrier (22) to the car base unit (10).
  • the rails may comprise one or more releasable locks (not shown) which may be released by means of one or more levers (30).
  • the removable infant carrier is locked in place and as indicated at (32) confirms that the lock is in position.
  • the base of the removable infant carrier comprises a depression (34) to hold the head of the infant (26).
  • the base unit (24) also comprises a pair of carrying handles (36) for removing the carrier (22) from the base unit (24).
  • Figure 3 shows the front of a typical base unit.
  • the base unit (10) comprises two pairs of complementary attachments (40). Complementary attachments are shown in more detail in Figure 4, which shows the complementary attachment (40) engaging with the rail (28).
  • FIG. 3 also shows a crash indicator (50).
  • the crash indicator may be an electronic or mechanical crash indicator which produces an indication when the seat has been involved in a crash above a preset G-force limit.
  • Crash indicators include, for example, by dye-filled capsules which break upon passing a predetermined impact level. This means that it is possible to identify whether the car seat has been involved in a crash and therefore dispose of it.
  • Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention with a removable infant carrier (22).
  • the removable infant carrier (22) comprises a plurality of substantially rigid plates (52) which are articulated together to allow the removable infant carrier to bend to match the shape of the infant.
  • FIG. 5 also shows an alternative arrangement of the complementary attachments (40).
  • the slotted rails (28) would be provided on the base unit (10).
  • Figure 6 shows a still alternative embodiment in which the rails (28) are provided as split rails. This means that they are easier to engage with complementary attachments (40) provided on the base unit (10).
  • the rails (28) are provided on wings (54) hingedly attached (56) to the base of the removable infant carrier (24). The hinging allows the rails (28) to be moved so that, for example, one or more straps may be positioned and attached onto the rails (28) to allow the removable infant carrier (22) to be carried by a carer.
  • the removable infant carrier may also be used in combination with, for example, a pushchair or pram base comprising wheels and a handle for pushing, which has been adapted so that the complementary attachment or the attachment point may be provided on the frame of the pram or pushchair to allow the removable infant carrier to be attached to the pram or pushchair.
  • a number of different strap variations may be provided to allow the removable infant carrier to be carried by a carer. Different arrangements for carrying the infant on the back or front of a carer are generally known in the art.
  • US 2008/0073391 shows and example of an infant carrier which may be used to hold an infant facing the chest of a carer or alternatively in the manner of a back pack facing the back of a carer.
  • Another example of an infant carrier is shown in United States Design Patent US D664,351 S. This shows a multi-purpose carrier in which straps may be adjusted to allow the infant to be carried on a carer' s chest (facing the carer or facing away), placed facing over a shoulder and placed on a carer's back.
  • EP 1175858A describes a carrying device intended to act as an insert into a car seat comprising a support and carrying handles which may be optionally attached to a sling for carrying an infant.
  • the insert comprises a soft material and is placed into a conventional car seat and retained by conventional straps and seat belts.
  • EP 1837230A describes an infant carrier sling for babies adapted to a car seat in another mode which is wearable over the shoulder of the carer.

Abstract

Car Safety System The invention provides a car safety system comprising a base unit (10) and removable infant carrier (22) wherein: • the base unit (10) is adapted to be attached to the seat of a vehicle, the base unit comprising a crash resistant shell to provide protection to an infant placed in the car safety system in the event of an accident to the vehicle; and • the infant carrier (22) is adapted to be releasably attached to the base unit with an infant in the infant carrier and comprises an infant restraint harness to restrain an infant attached to the infant carrier.

Description

Car Safety System
The invention relates to an infant carrying system comprising an impact resistant base shell for attaching to a seat of a car and a removable insert into which an infant may be inserted. The removable insert may comprise one or more straps to allow the infant to be carried by a person and may be adapted to be attached to a pushchair or pram frame.
Infant car safety seats have conventionally been constructed to be attached to the seat of a car using the seat belt of the car or automobile, or using the internationally recognised Isofix attachment system. They are large, bulky items often weighing many kilos. Often they are removable from the car and may be carried using a handle attached to the car seat, but their bulk and weight makes this difficult. Moreover, infants grow out of the car seats which means that several car seats may be needed as the infant grows older.
Removable inserts for infants which are inserted into conventional car safety seats are known. EP 1175858 for example, discloses a sling with carrying handles to allow an infant to be removed from a seat. EP 1837230A discloses a more complex arrangement comprising a removable car safety seat with a removable infant sling.
Devices for carrying infants on facing or away from carers, on the carer's chest, back or over their shoulder are shown in FR 2,935,136, US 2008/0073391A and US D664,351 S.
There is a need for modular and safer car safety systems for infants.
The invention provides a car safety system comprising a base unit and removable infant carrier wherein: the base unit is adapted to be attached to the seat of a vehicle, the base unit comprising a crash resistant shell to provide protection to an infant placed in the car safety system in the event of an accident to the vehicle; and the infant carrier is adapted to be releasably attached to the base unit with an infant in the infant carrier and comprises an infant restraint harness to restrain an infant attached to the infant carrier. Typically the systems comprises a plurality of removable infant carriers, each carrier adapted to receive an infant of a different size. Additionally or alternatively the infant carrier may be adjustable lengthways to allow infants of different sizes to be carried.
This reduces wastage. Moreover, this also means that, for example, should the infant carrier or indeed should the base unit, become damaged at some stage, one or other of them can simply be replaced.
The infant restraint harness may be a conventional three or five point harness of the types conventionally used within car safety systems. The position where the harness is attached to the carrier may be adjustable to fit different sized infants. The harness may comprise one or indeed two shoulder straps and one or more webs attached to the shoulder strap, which in use covers an area substantially below the armpit or scapula of the infant and the same or different web covers at least a part of or side of an abdomen of the infant, thereby limiting the ability of the infant to slide an arm or shoulder out of the strap. Such systems are the subject of WO 2010/015842.
The harness may comprise a tensioner to reduce slack in at least a part of the harness, for example when the infant carrier is removed from the base unit. The tensioner may be spring operated. The tensioner may comprise a locking system to prevent it extending too far. This may be automatic or operable by the carer. The locking system may comprise a lever and ratchet to assist in removing excess slack.
One or more attachment points may be attached to the base unit or removable infant carrier and one or more complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier or the base unit may be provided to attach the removable infant carrier to the base unit. The attachment points may comprise, for example, one or more slotted rails mounted on the base unit or the infant carrier adapted to receive a complementary attachment mounted on the infant carrier or base unit, capable of sliding along the rail. The rail may comprise, for example, a slot with a T-shaped cross section. The complementary attachment may therefore be a T-shaped piece which is adapted to slot into and slide along the T-shaped cross section of the rail. Alternatively, the rail may have a generally T-shaped cross section and the complementary attachment may comprise a T-shaped slot through which the rail may slide. Alternative systems for attaching the carrier to the base may also be used.
The attachment point may comprise a lock to lock the complementary attachment in a predetermined position. The lock may comprise a visual indicator confirming that the attachment is locked in the predetermined position. This may, for example, be in the form of a raised coloured portion to indicate that the lock is in position. The car safety system may comprise a plurality of locks releasable by a single release point. For example, pulling a lever at a single point to release the entire releasable infant carrier allows the infant to be removed from the base unit more easily.
The rail may be mounted on the removable infant carrier or alternatively may be mounted on the base unit. Pairs of attachment points or complementary attachments may be provided.
The infant carrier and base unit may comprise one or more complementary positioning mouldings or attachments to guide and align the insertion of the carrier onto the rails.
The attachment points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier may be provided mounted on wings extending from opposing edges of the removable infant carrier. The wings may be hinged along the edge of the removable infant carrier. For example, the wings may be along the length of the removable infant carrier, positioned so that they are along at least a part of the direction of the body of the infant when in use.
The attachments points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier may be used to attach the removable infant carrier to one or more other accessories, for example to one or more straps to allow the removable infant carrier to be carried. Alternatively, the attachment points or complementary attachments in the removable infant carrier may be used, for example, to attach the removable infant carrier to a frame of a pushchair or pram. This allows the removable infant carrier to be removed from the car without removing the infant and placed on a pushchair or pram, for example by engaging the attachment points with complementary attachments on the pushchair or pram. This reduces the amount of weight needed to be carried. The invention therefore also provides a car safety system according to the invention, additionally comprising a wheeled frame adapted to receive the removable infant carrier to form a pushchair or pram.
The infant carrier may additionally be adapted to be mounted on an airline seat by provision of one or more points for attachment to an airline seat belt. This allows the carrier to be used on an airline seat. This may be facing forwards or rearward facing.
The removable infant carrier comprises a backing on which the infant is placed. The backing may be substantially rigid or flat to allow a neonate to be carried. The carrier may alternatively comprise a flexible backing having an adjustable support which is moveable, for example by means of a cam, to adjust the curve of the surface on which the infant is place.
The backing may also be adapted to be flexible to match the curve of the spine of an infant placed therein, to allow a more comfortable seating position. The backing may be designed to flex in the direction of the curve of the spine of the infant but not substantially in the opposite direction away from the infant. This means that the backing plate may be allowed to flex between a curved position along the spine of the infant and a substantially flat position, but not beyond that flat position. The backing plate may comprise, for example, a plurality of articulated plates which allow the removable infant carrier to flex in the direction of the spine of an infant placed in the removable infant carrier, but also providing protection to the infant. The articulated plates may flex in a manner similar to that of the tail of a lobster.
Such flexible systems made out of substantially rigid articulated plates are generally known in the art in the form of body armour for use in extreme sports to prevent injury to, for example, the spine when a person is skiing or body boarding. An example is shown in, for example, US 5,586,561.
Alternatively, the backing may comprise a resiliently flexible plastics material.
The removable infant carrier may comprise a back portion and the back portion may comprise a recess into which the head of an infant is placed. This provides support for the back of the infant's head. The removable infant carrier may also comprise side panels extending from a back portion. The side panels assist in restraining the infant while the infant is being carried. One or more handles may be arranged on the removable infant carrier to allow the infant carrier to be removed from the base unit with the infant in situ within the infant carrier. The one or more handles may be attached to, for example, the sides of the removable infant carrier. For example, a pair of handles may be provided, one on each side of the infant.
These may be flexible or rigid. Alternatively, for example, a single, substantially rigid handle attached at each end to an opposite side respectively may be provided. This may be ratably moveable to allow the handle to be moved to a stowed position when not in use or to a position where it improves crash protection, for example, by preventing rotation of the carrier or by acting as a barrier.
One or more straps may be provided which may be arranged to allow an infant in the removable infant carrier to be mounted upon the front or back of a carer's torso. A variety of different ways of mounting an infant on a carer through the use of straps are generally known in the art. See for example, EP 1,837,230, EP 1,175,858, FR 2,935,126 and US D664,351 S.
The straps may be, for example, mounted on a retractable mechanism, such as a roller. This allows, for example, the strap to be pulled from the roller and used by the carer to be used and withdrawn when not in use.
The straps may be removable. The straps may be attached to one or more of the attachment points or complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier. Provision of attachment points or complementary attachments on wings on each side of the removable infant carrier allows, for example, the infant carrier to be attached to the base unit, but then have the attachment points flexed in a different direction to allow straps to be attached to those points in a different direction.
The removable infant carrier may additionally comprise a collapsible sunshade attached to it. The collapsible sunshade may be, for example, a sheet of flexible material attached to a loop of wire which is hinged onto a fitting on the removable infant carrier to allow it to be open and closed. The base unit may comprise a monocoque or safety shell. The base unit typically comprises one or more safety features to reduce the risk of injury to an infant in the event of an accident to the vehicle. For example, this may comprise a resiliently flexible outer shell, a crumple zone, shock absorbent materials, such as foam or collapsible foams, or other materials, such as frangible carbon fibre shells, which absorb impacts on the base unit. Typically the car base unit comprises side panels on each side of the position of the infant. This provides protection to the infant in the event of a side impact. Additionally, panels may be provided at the head or foot end of the base unit. A separate base unit and removable infant carrier allows a more structurally resilient base unit to be constructed, compared to prior art systems where it is desirable to have a light weight car seat which can be readily removed with the infant within the car seat.
The base unit may be adapted to allow it to be attached to the vehicle facing forwards in the direction of travel of the vehicle or facing backwards. Some carer prefer backward facing car safety seats for younger infants.
Currently it is undesirable to buy car safety seats second hand. This is because it is not possible to identify whether the car seat has been involved in an accident. Accordingly, the base unit may comprise an accelerometer, such as an acceleration indicator to show that the base unit has been subjected to a crash. Such acceleration indicators may be electrical or mechanically based. They are generally known in the art, and have been used in, for example, the packaging industry to indicate whether an article within packaging has been subjected to being dropped or otherwise mishandled during transit.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following figures:
Figure 1 shows a side view of a base unit. Figure 2 shows a side view of a removable carrier. Figure 3 shows a front view of a base unit. Figure 4 shows a detail of an attachment. Figure 5 shows the back of a removable infant carrier. Figure 6 shows an alternative back of an infant carrier.
Figure 1 shows an example of a base unit (10). The base unit comprises a back (12), base (14), head side wings (16) and arm side wings (18). The base unit (10) comprises a crash resilient material and is intended to protect the occupant of the car safety system in the event of an accident. The base unit may comprise a resiliently deformable material, such as a foam or may comprise a material such as carbon fibre which breaks upon impact, thereby absorbing some or all of the crash force.
In use the base unit may be attached to a car seat for example, via the use of the seat belts provided within a vehicle. Alternatively the base unit may use an "Isofix" system (20). Isofix is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars. The system has various other regional names including "LATCH" in the United States and "LUAS" or "CANFIX" in Canada. It has also been called a universal child safety seat system. Additionally there may be a top tether strap or leg with the Isofix anchorage to further fix the base unit (10) to the vehicle.
Figure 2 shows a typical removable infant carrier (22). The removable infant carrier comprises a carrier base (24) into which an infant (26) is placed. The carrier base is shown in Figure 2 as comprising a rail or pair of rails (28), which comprise complementary attachments (40) for engaging the removable infant carrier (22) to the car base unit (10). The rails may comprise one or more releasable locks (not shown) which may be released by means of one or more levers (30). The removable infant carrier is locked in place and as indicated at (32) confirms that the lock is in position.
The base of the removable infant carrier comprises a depression (34) to hold the head of the infant (26). The base unit (24) also comprises a pair of carrying handles (36) for removing the carrier (22) from the base unit (24). Figure 3 shows the front of a typical base unit. The base unit (10) comprises two pairs of complementary attachments (40). Complementary attachments are shown in more detail in Figure 4, which shows the complementary attachment (40) engaging with the rail (28).
Figure 3 also shows a crash indicator (50). The crash indicator may be an electronic or mechanical crash indicator which produces an indication when the seat has been involved in a crash above a preset G-force limit. Crash indicators include, for example, by dye-filled capsules which break upon passing a predetermined impact level. This means that it is possible to identify whether the car seat has been involved in a crash and therefore dispose of it.
Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention with a removable infant carrier (22). The removable infant carrier (22) comprises a plurality of substantially rigid plates (52) which are articulated together to allow the removable infant carrier to bend to match the shape of the infant.
The embodiment shown in Figure 5 also shows an alternative arrangement of the complementary attachments (40). In this particular case the slotted rails (28) would be provided on the base unit (10).
Figure 6 shows a still alternative embodiment in which the rails (28) are provided as split rails. This means that they are easier to engage with complementary attachments (40) provided on the base unit (10). The rails (28) are provided on wings (54) hingedly attached (56) to the base of the removable infant carrier (24). The hinging allows the rails (28) to be moved so that, for example, one or more straps may be positioned and attached onto the rails (28) to allow the removable infant carrier (22) to be carried by a carer.
The removable infant carrier may also be used in combination with, for example, a pushchair or pram base comprising wheels and a handle for pushing, which has been adapted so that the complementary attachment or the attachment point may be provided on the frame of the pram or pushchair to allow the removable infant carrier to be attached to the pram or pushchair. A number of different strap variations may be provided to allow the removable infant carrier to be carried by a carer. Different arrangements for carrying the infant on the back or front of a carer are generally known in the art.
US 2008/0073391 shows and example of an infant carrier which may be used to hold an infant facing the chest of a carer or alternatively in the manner of a back pack facing the back of a carer. Another example of an infant carrier is shown in United States Design Patent US D664,351 S. This shows a multi-purpose carrier in which straps may be adjusted to allow the infant to be carried on a carer' s chest (facing the carer or facing away), placed facing over a shoulder and placed on a carer's back.
EP 1175858A describes a carrying device intended to act as an insert into a car seat comprising a support and carrying handles which may be optionally attached to a sling for carrying an infant. The insert comprises a soft material and is placed into a conventional car seat and retained by conventional straps and seat belts. EP 1837230A describes an infant carrier sling for babies adapted to a car seat in another mode which is wearable over the shoulder of the carer.

Claims

Claims
1. A car safety system comprising a base unit and removable infant carrier wherein: the base unit is adapted to be attached to the seat of a vehicle, the base unit comprising a crash resistant shell to provide protection to an infant placed in the car safety system in the event of an accident to the vehicle; and the infant carrier is adapted to be releasably attached to the base unit with an infant in the infant carrier and comprises an infant restraint harness to restrain an infant attached to the infant carrier.
2. A car safety system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of removable infant carriers, each infant carrier adapted to receive an infant of a different size.
3. A car safety system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the infant restraint harness comprises a shoulder strap and one or more webs attached to the shoulder strap which in use covers an area substantially below the armpit or scapula of an infant and the same or different web covers at least a part of the side of the abdomen of the infant, thereby limiting the ability of the infant to slide an arm or should out from under the strap.
4. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more attachment points attached to the base unit or removable infant carrier and one or more complementary attachments on the removable infant carrier or the base unit to attach the removable infant carrier to the base unit.
5. A car safety system according to claim 4, wherein the attachment point comprises one or more slotted rails mounted on the base unit or the infant carrier adapted to receive the complementary attachment mounted on the infant carrier or base unit and capable of sliding along the rail.
6. A car safety system according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the attachment point comprises a releasable lock to lock the complementary attachment in a predetermined position.
7. A car safety system according to claim 6, wherein the lock comprises a visual indicator confirming that attachment is locked in the predetermined position.
8. A car safety system according to claims 6 to 7, comprising a plurality of locks releasable by a single release.
9. A car safety system according to claims 5 to 8, wherein the rail is mounted on the removable infant carrier.
10. A car safety system according to claims 4 to 9, wherein at least one pair of attachment points are provided.
11. A car safety system according to claims 4 to 10, comprising a pair of attachment points each mounted on opposite wings extending from opposing edges of the removable infant carrier, said wings being pivotable along said edge of the removable infant carrier.
12. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, the removable infant carrier comprising a backing on which the infant is placed, the backing which is adapted to be flexible to substantially match the curve of the spine of the infant placed therein, but not to flex in the opposite direction away from the infant.
13. A car safety system according to claim 12, wherein the backing comprises a plurality of substantially rigid articulated plates.
14. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the removable infant carrier comprises a recess adapted to receive the back of the head of the infant when placed in the removable infant carrier.
15. A car safety system according to any preceding claim comprising one or more handles arranged to allow the removable infant carrier to be removed from the base unit with the infant in situ within the infant carrier.
16. A car safety system according to any preceding claim additionally comprising one or more straps to allow the removable infant carrier with an infant to be carried by a carer.
17. A car safety system according to claim 16, wherein the straps are arranged to allow an infant in the removable infant carrier to be mounted upon the front or back of a carer's torso.
18. A car safety system according to claim 17, wherein the straps are removable.
19. A car safety system according to claim 18, wherein the straps are attachable to the attachment points, defined in claims 4 to 10.
20. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising a collapsible sunshade.
21. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the base unit is a monocoque or safety shell.
22. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the base unit comprises one or more of the following:
(1) crumple zone
(2) shock absorbing materials
(3) resiliently flexible impact zones.
23. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, comprising a shock absorbing structure between the base unit and the removable infant carrier.
24. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the base unit comprises an acceleration indicator to show if the base unit has been subjected to a crash.
25. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, the base unit comprising one or more of a head protector, front and side protectors for an infant placed in the system.
26. A car safety system according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising a wheeled frame adapted to receive the removable infant carrier to form a pushchair or pram.
PCT/GB2014/051851 2013-06-17 2014-06-17 Car safety system WO2014202959A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1310777.6 2013-06-17
GB201310777A GB201310777D0 (en) 2013-06-17 2013-06-17 Car Safety System

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Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014202959A1 true WO2014202959A1 (en) 2014-12-24

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GB (1) GB201310777D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2014202959A1 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4750783A (en) * 1986-08-20 1988-06-14 Irby Samuel S Coacting infant/toddler seat/car seat/stroller system
US20040000802A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2004-01-01 Xsci, Inc. Child safety seat
US20060261105A1 (en) * 2005-03-24 2006-11-23 Cosco Management, Inc. Juvenile seat with removable, wearable infant carrier sling
US8234994B1 (en) * 2011-03-10 2012-08-07 Shockwatch, Inc. Impact indicator
US20120319438A1 (en) * 2010-05-03 2012-12-20 Tae Hyung Kim Infant car seat
WO2013061308A2 (en) * 2011-10-27 2013-05-02 Leatt Corporation Child restraint system
EP2594427A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-22 Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited Support base for a child safety seat

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4750783A (en) * 1986-08-20 1988-06-14 Irby Samuel S Coacting infant/toddler seat/car seat/stroller system
US20040000802A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2004-01-01 Xsci, Inc. Child safety seat
US20060261105A1 (en) * 2005-03-24 2006-11-23 Cosco Management, Inc. Juvenile seat with removable, wearable infant carrier sling
US20120319438A1 (en) * 2010-05-03 2012-12-20 Tae Hyung Kim Infant car seat
US8234994B1 (en) * 2011-03-10 2012-08-07 Shockwatch, Inc. Impact indicator
WO2013061308A2 (en) * 2011-10-27 2013-05-02 Leatt Corporation Child restraint system
EP2594427A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-22 Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited Support base for a child safety seat

Also Published As

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