APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND SEAT FOR VEHICLE WITH APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat and a seat for the vehicle with such the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat which are capable of easing a restriction on a position of the child safety seat on the seat or the vehicle due to a limited width of the vehicle on which the seat for the vehicle is provided, to enhance degree of freedom on such a position, while at the same time, capable of mounting the child safety seat on the seat for the vehicle in a precise and reliable manner in such a way that the child safety seat can endure an impact load in the longitudinal of the vehicle or the side direction.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a child safety seat and a seat for a vehicle with said apparatus for mounting the child safety seat, and, in particular, relates to such an apparatus for mounting a child safety seat and such a seat for a vehicle with said apparatus for mounting a child safety seat which are capable of easing a restriction on arranging said child safety seat on said seat for a vehicle due to a limited width of the vehicle on which said seat for the vehicle is mounted to enlarge degree of freedom on a position of said child safety seat on said seat for a vehicle, while at the same time, capable of mounting said child safety seat on said seat for a vehicle precisely and reliably in such a way that said child safety seat can endure an impact load in a longitudinal direction or a side direction of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, in a vehicle, an automobile, in particular, the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat has been used in order to mount the child safety seat on the seat for the vehicle. Each of the patent publications 1 and 2 discloses an example of such the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat.

In the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat disclosed in the patent publication 1, a lower bar extending in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle over the entirety of its width is fixed on the seat for the vehicle. A pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar, the pair of anchor members are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the seat, and each anchor member includes a pair of leg portions and a locking portion which connects the pair of leg portions and is detachably connected on a fixing hook mounted on the child safety seat.

• • Each of both ends and an intermediate portion of the lower bar is fixed on a floor panel via a supporting bracket. The supporting bracket at the intermediate portion, in particular, is fixed on the floor panel by utilizing a bracket for a seat frame for the vehicle.

According to such a structure, since not only the both ends, but also the intermediate portion of the lower bar on which the pair of anchor members fixing the child safety seat is mounted is supported on the floor panel via the corresponding supporting brackets, even if the light and cheap lower bar is used, the lower bar does not largely deform due to a load from the child safety seat upon a front collision of the vehicle, so that the supporting rigidity for the child safety seat can be secured, and there is no risk of the lower bar being deformed in a case where luggage is loaded on the rear portion of the vehicle is caused to shift forwardly due to the sudden brake of the vehicle, etc. to collide with the lower bar.

In the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat disclosed in the patent publication 2, the lower bar extending in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle over the entirety of its width is fixed on the seat for the vehicle. The pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar, each of the pair of anchor members are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the seat, and each anchor member includes a pair of leg portions and the locking portion which connects the pair of leg portions and is detachably connected on a fixing hook mounted on the child safety seat.

• • In the one anchor member of the pair of anchor members, the left or right leg portion is fixed on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar from above or below, while the left or right leg portion is fixed on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar from below or above, while on the other hand, in the other anchor member of the pair of anchor members, the left or right leg portion is fixed on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar from above or below, while the left or right leg portion is fixed on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar from below or above.
  • According to such a structure, as compared with a structure in which a pair of leg portion in each of the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar from above or below, a vertical movement of the fixing hook relative to the lower bar can be reliably restricted, so that the child safety seat can be effectively and reliably prevented from largely declining or overturning.

However, these apparatuses for mounting the child safety seat raise following technical problems.

• • Firstly since a case in which the child safety seats are simultaneously or individually mounted on a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other is not assumed, it is technically difficult to mount the child safety seat simultaneously or individually on the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other under such an above configuration in which the pair of anchor members are mounted on the lower bar. In addition, if the pair of anchor members are welded on the lower bar in each of the plurality of seat portions, the lower bar can deflect due to the weld heat to make the mounting of the child safety seat on the seat in a precise manner difficult, or, in a small vehicle with a narrow width including a plurality of seat portions, it is technically difficult to mount the child safety seats are simultaneously on the plurality of seat portions.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in the patent publication 1, in a case where the pair of anchor members are welded on the lower bar with being spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle in accordance with the width of the seat portion, in each of the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, since the pair of leg portions of each pair of anchor members are welded on vertically the same side of the lower bar (lower side in FIG. 8) under the condition that the anchor members are welded on the lower bar by spot welding, in particular, each anchor members can remove from the lower bar due to a narrow welding area upon an exertion of the vertical load on the vehicle. In addition, it is technically difficult to dispose the anchor member at the side of the other seat portion in the one of the seat portions and the anchor member at the side of the one seat portion in the other of the seat portions, close to each other.

• • While, on the other hand, in the patent publication 2, although the pair of leg portions in each anchor members are welded on the lower bar so as to be partially wound around the lower bar with the one leg portion at the vertically one side and the other leg portion at vertically the other side, it neither suggests nor discloses that the anchor members at the side of the other seat portion in the one of the seat portions and the anchor members at the side of the one seat portion in the other of the seat portions are disposed more closely adjacent to each other.
  • Secondly, in the seat for the vehicle with the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, in a case where a space in the widthwise direction for two seat portions are provided, for instance, it is technically difficult to mount three safety seats for the child on such a space. More specifically, since the width of the child safety seat is narrower than that of the seat portion, the pair of anchor members have been conventionally welded on the lower bar in each of the plurality of seat portions, so that there is a restriction for positioning the anchor members in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, in a case where a plurality of pairs of anchor members are to be mounted.

[Patent Publication 1] Japanese Patent No. 3462160

[Patent Publication 2] Japanese Patent No. 3690228

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above technical problems, an object of the present invention is to provide the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat and a seat for a vehicle with such the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat which are capable of easing a restriction on a position of the child safety seat on the seat for the vehicle due to a limited width of the vehicle on which the seat for the vehicle is provided, to enhance degree of freedom on such a position, while at the same time, capable of mounting the child safety seat on the seat for the vehicle in a precise and reliable manner in such a way that the child safety seat can endure an impact load in the longitudinal or the side direction of the vehicle.

In view of the above technical problems, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for mounting a child safety seat comprising a lower bar which is fixed on a seat for a vehicle and extends in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, a plurality of pairs of anchor members which are fixed on said lower bar, each pair of anchor members includes a pair of leg portions which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, and a locking portion which connects said pair of leg portions and is detachably connected to a fixing hook mounted on the child safety seat, in two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members, the one leg portion at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the pair of leg portions which belong to the one anchor member at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the one pair of the anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the one leg portion at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the pair of leg portions which belong to the one anchor member at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the other pair of the anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

According to the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat, since the lower bar which is fixed on the seat for the vehicle and extends in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle is provided, a plurality of pairs of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar, the two anchor members in each pair of anchor members are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, and each anchor member includes a pair of leg portions and a locking portion which connects the pair of leg portions and is detachably connected to a fixing hook mounted on the child safety seat, the child safety seat can be detachably fixed on the seat for the vehicle via the pair of anchor members.

• • In a case where the child safety seats are simultaneously mounted on the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, since, in two sets of said pair of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members, said leg portion of the one pair of anchor members at the side of the other pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, said leg portion of the other pair of anchor members at the side of the one pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, said two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said seat for the vehicle includes a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, said lower bar extends in the widthwise direction of said seat for the vehicle over the entirety of its width, and said pair of anchor members are fixed on said lower bar in each of said plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, each pair of anchor members are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of said seat for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the corresponding seat portion, in the anchor member at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the one pair of anchor members in the one of two adjacent seat portions, the one of said leg portions at the side of the other pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, while, in the anchor member at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the other pair of anchor members in the other of two adjacent seat portions, the one of said leg portions at the side of the one pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the side of the other of the two adjacent seats, of the one of the two adjacent seats, and said anchor member at the side of the one of the two adjacent seats, of the other of the two adjacent seats can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

According to the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat, even if the child safety seats are simultaneously mounted on the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, in two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members, since, with respect to the one pair of anchor members, the one of said leg portions at the side of the other pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, while, with respect to the other pair of anchor members, the one of said leg portions at the side of the one pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, the adjacent leg portions, one of which belongs to the one pair of anchor members in the one seat portion, the other of which belongs to the other adjacent pair of anchor members in the other adjacent seat portion, are fixed on the lower bar by welding at vertically opposite positions of the lower bar, and as a result, said two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among the plurality of pairs of anchor members can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, whereby a restriction on a position of the child safety seat on the seat for the vehicle due to a limited width of the vehicle on which the seat for the vehicle is provided can be eased, while at the same time, the child safety seat can be mounted on the seat for the vehicle in a precise and reliable manner in such a way that the child safety seat can endure an impact load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle without the lower bar being deflected, even if the two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle are mounted on the lower bar.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said seat for the vehicle is a rear seat for three users including a right seat portion, a middle seat portion and a left seat portion, and said anchor members and said lower bar are made of metal, and the left leg portion of the anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the right leg portion of the anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, and the left leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the right leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion and said anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said seat for the vehicle is a rear seat for three users including a right seat portion, a middle seat portion and a left seat portion, and said anchor members and said lower bar are made of metal, and the right leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the left leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, and the right leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the right seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the left leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion and said anchor member at the middle side of the right seat portion can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

• • In another embodiment of the present invention, said locking portion extends along the axial direction of said lower bar, and each of said pair of leg portions extends in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower portion.
  • In another embodiment of the present invention, in said pair of anchor members adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, said leg portion at the side of the other of said pair of anchor members of the one of said pair of anchor members and said leg portion at the side of the one of said pair of anchor members of the other of said pair of anchor members are arranged in an overlapping manner.
  • In another embodiment of the present invention, each of said pair of leg portions includes an arcuate portion extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower bar along the surface of said lower bar, and said pair of anchor members are welded on the surface of said lower bar by means of an arc welding via said arcuate portions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, each of said pair of leg portions includes a straight portion extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower bar, and said pair of anchor members are welded on the surface of said lower bar by means of a spot welding via said straight portions.

• • In another embodiment of the present invention, said seat for the vehicle includes a rectangular seat back frame which vertically extends, and said lower bar is fixed on said floor panel via a bracket for a seat frame connected to said rectangular seat back.
  • In another embodiment of the present invention, said bracket for said seat frame is provided so as to fix and support said intermediate lower portion in the widthwise direction of said rectangular seat back frame, on said floor panel, and said lower bar includes a first portion which extends between the one of said lower end corner portion and said intermediate lower portion, of said rectangular seat back frame and a second portion which extends between the other of said lower end corner portion and said intermediate lower portion, of said rectangular seat back frame, whereby each of said first and second portions is individually fixed on said intermediate lower portion of said bracket for said seat frame.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said bracket for said seat frame is provided so as to fix and support each of said lower end corner portions in the widthwise direction of said rectangular seat back frame, on said floor panel, and a penetrated hole through which said lower bar extends is provided on the bracket for said seat frame.

• • In another embodiment of the present invention, a lower side portion of said rectangular seat back frame extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is utilized as said lower bar.
  • In another embodiment of the present invention, the seat for the vehicle comprises the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat of the present invention will be described in detail by exemplifying a case in which the child safety seat is mounted on a rear seat for a vehicle for three users, with reference to the drawings.

• • As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear seat 10 for the vehicle for three users comprises a seat back 11 for the vehicle and a seat cushion 13 for the vehicle. The seat cushion 13 for the vehicle supports a hip portion and a thigh portion of a user, while a seat back 11 for the vehicle supports a back portion of a user. Each of the seat back 11 for the vehicle and the seat cushion 13 for the vehicle includes a seat frame structure 12, a pad (not shown) so as to cover the entire seat frame structure 12, and a skin sheet (not shown) in a bag form so as to entirely cover the seat frame structure 12 and the pad.
  • The rear seat 10 for the vehicle is a rear seat for three users with a right seat portion R, a middle seat portion M and a left seat portion L. The rear seat 10 for the vehicle includes a rectangular seat back frame 12 which vertically extends and is formed by a seat back frame portion for the right seat portion R, a seat back frame portion for the middle seat portion M, a seat back frame portion for the left seat portion L being connected in a plane form so as to be shaped into a rectangular as a whole.
  • A bracket 16 for the seat frame via which the rectangular seat back frame 12 is fixed on the floor panel 18 is provided.
  • More specifically, a right lower corner portion 20 of the rectangular seat back frame 12A for the right seat portion R, a left lower corner portion 21 of the rectangular seat back frame 12A for the right seat portion R, a right lower corner portion 23 of the middle seat portion M and the rectangular seat back frame 12B for the left seat portion L, and a left lower corner portion 25 of the rectangular seat back frame 12B for the left seat portion L are fixed on the brackets 16A,B,C, respectively.
  • A pair of fixing hooks FL, FR of ISO-FIX type are fixed on a lower end portion of a rear face of the child safety seat C. The fixing hooks FL, FR (one is shown in FIG. 1) are laterally spaced apart from each other, and include grooves ML, MR, respectively, each of which substantially horizontally extends with being rearwardly open.

Explaining about the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 100 for mounting the child safety seat includes a lower bar 14 which is fixed on the rear seat 10 for the vehicle and extends in the widthwise direction of the rear seat 10 for the vehicle over its entire width. The lower bar 14 is fixed on the floor panel 18 via the brackets 16A, B, C for the seat frame, each of which is connected to the rectangular seat back frame 12. A penetrated hole (not shown) through which the lower bar 14 extends is provided on each of the brackets 16A, B, C for the seat frame.

• • A case of the intermediate bracket 16B is now explained about as an example, with respect to the configuration in which the lower bar 14 is fixed on the seat back frame portion via the brackets 16A, B, C for the seat frame.
  • The bracket 16 for the seat frame is fixed on the intermediate position in the widthwise direction on the floor panel 18 via a bolt (not shown), and The bracket 16 for the seat frame and the lower bar 14 are connected to each other with the lower bar 14 abutting against the bracket 16 for the seat frame from behind.
  • Alternatively, a lower side 24 extending in the widthwise direction of the rectangular seat back frame 12 may be utilized as the lower bar 14. This allows the cost for the apparatus 100 for mounting the child safety seat to be reduced without a need to newly provide the lower bar 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a pair of anchor members 32 are fixed on the lower bar 14 in each of the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other.

• • More specifically, the pair of anchor members 32AA, AB, the pair of anchor members 32BA, BB, and the pair of anchor members 32CA, CB, are provided on the right seat portion R, the middle seat portion M, and the left seat portion L, respectively. Each anchor member 32 is formed by bending a metal solid bar with a circular cross section into a predetermined shape, for instance.

The pair of anchor members 32 are fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding, and the pair of anchor members 32 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the rear seat 10 for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the corresponding seat portion, in such a way that the distance between the one anchor member 32 and the other anchor member 32 are set to be equal to that between the fixing hook FL and the fixing hook FR. Each pair of anchor members 32 are positioned between a rear end portion of the seat cushion 13 of the rear seat 10 for the vehicle and the lower end portion of the seat back 11 of the rear seat 10 for the vehicle, and each anchor member 32 is shaped into a substantially C-shape with being backwardly open in a case where it is seen from above.

• • Each of the anchor members 32 includes a pair of leg portions 34 and a locking portion 36 which connects the pair of leg portions 34 and is detachably connected to the fixing hook F mounted on the child safety seat C. The locking portion 36 extends along the axial direction of the lower bar 14, and each of the pair of leg portions 34 extends in the direction crossing the axial direction of the lower bar 14.
  • In the pair of anchor members 32, the locking portions 36 are adapted to be inserted into the groove ML of the fixing hook FL, the groove MR of the fixing hook FR, respectively, whereby the fixing hooks FL and FR are detachably fixed on the corresponding anchor members 32.

More specifically, the left leg portion 34B of the anchor member 32BB at the left side of the middle seat portion M is fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from above, while, the right leg portion 34A of the anchor member 32BB at the left side of the middle seat portion M is fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from below, and the left leg portion 34B of the anchor member 32CA at the middle side of the left seat portion L is fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from above, while, the right leg portion 34A of the anchor member 32 CA at the middle side of the left seat portion L is fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from below. Since the two adjacent leg portions 34, one of which belongs to the pair of anchor members 32 in the seat and the other of which belongs to another pair of anchor members 32 adjacent to the former pair of anchor members 32 in another seat adjacent to the former seat, are fixed on the lower bar 14 in such a way that one of the leg two adjacent portions 34 is fixed at its one vertical side and the other of the two adjacent leg portions 34 is fixed at its vertically opposite side, the anchor member 32BB at the left side of the middle seat portion M and the anchor member 32CA at the middle side of the left seat portion L can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

• • In particular, in two anchor members 32 close to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle (the anchor member 32BB at the left side of the middle seat portion M and the anchor member 32CA at the middle side of the left seat portion L), they can be arranged closer to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle by the leg portion 34 at the side of the other of the two anchor members 32 in the one of the two anchor members 32 and the leg portion 34 at the side of the one of the two anchor members 32 in the other of the two anchor members 32 being disposed to be overlapped to each other.

Alternatively, in a case where the bracket 16B for the bracket for the seat frame is omitted, the right leg portion 34A of the anchor member 32BA at the right side of the middle seat portion M may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from above, while, the left leg portion 34B of the anchor member 32BA at the right side of the middle seat portion M may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from below, and the right leg portion 34A of the anchor member 32AB at the middle side of the right seat portion R may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from above, while, the left leg portion 34B of the anchor member 32 AB at the middle side of the right seat portion R may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from below, whereby the anchor member 32BA at the right side of the middle seat portion M and the left anchor member 32AB at the middle side of the right seat portion R may be arranged close to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

• • In this connection, in the pair of anchor members 32, the right leg portion 34A and the left leg portion 34B may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14, not only from above or below, respectively, but also from below or above, respectively.

More specifically, in the pair of anchor members 32, a tip end portion of the leg portion 34A is fixed on the lower bar 14 so as to be wound around the lower bar 14 over a peripheral angel range between 90° and 180°, from above or below, while, a tip end portion of the leg portion 34B is fixed on the lower bar 14 so as to be wound around the lower bar 14 over a peripheral angel range between 90° and 180°, from below or above.

• • As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pair of leg portions 34A,34B are formed into a V-shape whose opening portion faces rearwardly, while, whose tip end portion protrudes forwardly from the lower bar 14, when they are seen from the lateral direction of the vehicle.

Each of the pair of leg portions 34A,B includes an arcuate portion 40 extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of the lower bar 14 along a surface 38 of the lower bar 14, and the pair of anchor members 32 are welded on the surface 38 of the lower bar 14 by arc welding via the arcuate portion 40.

• • Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, each of the pair of leg portions 34A,B includes a straight portion 42 extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of the lower bar 14 , and the pair of anchor members 32 are welded on the surface 38 of the lower bar 14 by spot welding via the straight portion 42. According to this welding process, as compared with the arc welding, the welding length can be shortened, so that an influence of the welding heat can be further reduced.
  • In this connection, in the pair of anchor members 32, the length of the winding of the leg portion 34A around the lower bar 14 may be determined, in view of the leg portion 34A being kept locked against the lower bar 14 upon an exertion of the rear ward or the forward load thereon, while, the length of the welding of the leg portion 34A on the lower bar 14 may be determined, in view of the leg portion 34A being kept fixed on the lower bar 14 upon an exertion of the rear ward or the forward load thereon, or the lateral load thereon, so that the winding length and the welding length do not necessarily have to be the same.

Still alternatively, the bracket 16B for the seat frame is provided so as to fix and support the intermediate lower portion 26 in the widthwise direction of the rectangular seat back frame 12 on the floor panel 18, and the lower bar 14 includes a first portion which extends between the one of the lower end corner portion 20 and the intermediate lower portion 26, of the rectangular seat back frame 12 and a second portion which extends between the other of the lower end corner portion 20 and the intermediate lower portion 26, of the rectangular seat back frame 12, whereby each of the first and second portions may be individually fixed on the surface corresponding to the opposed surface of the bracket 16B for the seat frame. For instance, the first portion may correspond to the right or left seat portion R, L, and the second portion may correspond to the middle seat portion M and the left or right seat portion.

Now, a technical effect of the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat C on with the above structure is explained about, including a method of mounting the child safety seat C on the seat for the vehicle.

• • In the seat 10 for the vehicle with a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other on which the lower bar 14 extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle over the entirety of its width is provided, the method of mounting the child safety seat C on the seat for the vehicle includes a step of selecting a plurality of seat portions on which the child safety seats C are mounted, and a step of fixing pair of anchor members 32 on the lower bar 14 by welding, in accordance with each of the selected plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other.
  • For instance, the positioning of fixing the pair of anchor members 32 on the lower bar 14 by welding is determined by selecting the middle seat portion M and the left seat portion L adjacent to each other on each of which the child safety seat C is to be mounted.

Since each pair of anchor members 32 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the rear seat 10 for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the corresponding seat portion, and includes the pair of leg portions 34A,B 34, and the locking portion 36 which connects the pair of leg portions 34A,B and is detachably connected to the child safety seat C, the positioning of the pair of anchor members 32 on the lower bar 14 may be carried out by passing the lower bar 14 from its one end between the pair of leg portions 34A,B of each anchor member 32 in the axial direction of the lower bar 14 to position the pair of anchor members 32 on a longitudinal position of the lower bar 14, and rotate the anchor members 32 about the axial direction of the lower bar 14.

Then, in two pairs of anchor members 32 adjacent to each other, the leg portion 34 at the side of the other pair of anchor members between the leg portions 34A,B of the one of the pair of anchor members 32 at the side of the other pair of anchor members 32 is fixed on the lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from above or below, while, the leg portion 34 of the other of the pair of anchor members 32 at the side of the one pair of anchor members 32 is fixed on the lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around the lower bar 14 from below or above, whereby the two pairs of anchor members 34 adjacent to each other are disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

• • The mounting of the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat C on the seat for the vehicle is completed by fixing the lower bar 14 on which the anchor members 32 are welded on the rear seat 10 for the vehicle via the brackets 16 for the seat frame.

According to the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat C, in the seat 10 for the vehicle with a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, since the lower bar 14 is provided which is fixed on the seat 10 for the vehicle and extends in the widthwise direction of the seat 10 for the vehicle over the entirety of its width, a plurality of pairs of anchor members 34 are fixed on the lower bar 14, the two anchor members 34 in each pair of anchor members 34 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat 10 for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the corresponding seat portion on which the child safety seat C is to be mounted, and are fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding, the child safety seat C can be detachably fixed on the seat portion via the corresponding pair of anchor members 32.

More specifically, in a case where the child safety seat C is fixed on the seat cushion 13 for the vehicle, firstly, the child safety seat C is moved rearwardly along a surface of the seat cushion 13 for the vehicle, whereby the locking portions 36 of the pair of anchor members 34 are inserted into the groove ML of the fixing hook FL and the groove MR of the fixing hook FR, respectively, and thus, the child safety seat C is fixed on the seat cushion 13 for the vehicle by means of a seat belt, or a dedicated belt (not shown).

According to the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat C, even if the child safety seat Cs are simultaneously mounted on the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, in two pairs of anchor members 32 adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members 32, since, with respect to the one pair of anchor members 32, the one of said leg portions 34 at the side of the other pair of anchor members 32 is fixed on said lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around said lower bar 14 from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions 34 at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around said lower bar 14 from below or above, while, with respect to the other pair of anchor members 32, the one of said leg portions 34 at the side of the one pair of anchor members 32 is fixed on said lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around said lower bar 14 from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions 34 at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar 14 so as to be partially wound around said lower bar 14 from below or above, the adjacent leg portions 34, one of which belongs to the one pair of anchor members 32 in the one seat portion, the other of which belongs to the other adjacent pair of anchor members 32 in the other adjacent seat portion, are fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding at vertically opposite positions of the lower bar 14, and as a result, said two pairs of anchor members 32 adjacent to each other among the plurality of pairs of anchor members 32 can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, whereby a restriction on a position of the child safety seat C on the seat 10 for the vehicle due to a limited width of the vehicle on which the seat 10 for the vehicle is provided can be eased, while at the same time, the child safety seat C can be mounted on the seat 10 for the vehicle in a precise and reliable manner in such a way that the child safety seat C can endure an impact load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle without the lower bar 14 being deflected, even if the two pairs of anchor members 32 adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat 10 for the vehicle are mounted on the lower bar 14.

Alternatively, since the pair of anchor members do not have to be provided on each of the plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, as shown in FIG. 7, in the two seat portions (the right seat portion R and the left seat portion L), three pairs of anchor members 32 may be fixed on the lower bar 14 by welding, based on the fact that the width w of the child safety seat C is narrower than that of the seat portion W. In such a case, since there are two pairs of anchor members 32 adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, in the three pairs of anchor members 32, the anchor member 32AB of the pair of anchor members 32A and the anchor member 32BA of the pair of anchor members 32B adjacent to the pair of anchor members 32A, and the anchor member 32BB of the pair of anchor members 32B and the anchor member 32CA of the pair of anchor members 32C adjacent to the pair of anchor members 32B may be disposed more closely adjacent to each other by adopting the reversely vertical relationship between the adjacent leg portions 34A,B on the configuration in which the adjacent leg portions 34A,B are wound around the lower bar 14.

As described above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention was described in detail, however, it is evident that those skilled in the art could modify or change the embodiment in various manners without departing from the scope of the present invention.

• • For instance, in this embodiment, the rectangular seat back frame 12 for the left seat portion and the rectangular seat back frame 12 for the middle and right seat portions are connected to each other in a plane form, however, an auxiliary bar may be provided so as to vertically extend at the border line portion between the left and the middle seat portions, in the rectangular seat back frame 12.
  • For instance, in this embodiment, the child safety seat C is mounted on the rear seat for three users, however, the child safety seats C may be simultaneously mounted on the seat portions adjacent to each other, or the child safety seat C may be mounted on either of the seat portions adjacent to each other, so long as the child safety seat C is mounted on the seat for the vehicle with a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other.

For instance, in this embodiment, the lower bar 14 is fixed on the seat for the vehicle via a supporting bracket, however, the lower bar 14 may be directly fixed on the seat for the vehicle without using the supporting bracket, so long as the child safety seat C is reliably kept fixed on the seat even when an impact load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is exerted on the child safety seat C.

• • For instance, in this embodiment, the pair of anchor members are made of a hollow pipe with a circular cross section, however, a sloid member with a rectangular cross section may be adopted.
  • For instance, in this embodiment, the fixing hook is detachably fixed on the locking portion via the groove, however, the fixing hook may be detachably fixed on the corresponding locking portion by another locking configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view showing a situation in which the child safety seat C is mounted on the seat for the vehicle by means of the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a general perspective view showing a situation in which the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat is mounted on the seat frame for the vehicle, in the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial general perspective view showing a situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar 14, in the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a general perspective view showing another situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar 14, in the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial general cross-sectional view showing a situation in which a situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar 14, seen from the axial direction of the lower bar 14 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial general cross-sectional view showing a situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar 14, seen from the axial direction of the lower bar 14 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a general view showing an alternative embodiment of a situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on a lower bar 14.

FIG. 8 is a general perspective view showing a situation in which the pair of anchor members are fixed on the lower bar 14 in a conventional apparatus for mounting the child safety seat.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a child safety seat comprising a lower bar which is fixed on a seat for a vehicle and extends in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, a plurality of pairs of anchor members which are fixed on said lower bar, each pair of anchor members includes a pair of leg portions which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle, and a locking portion which connects said pair of leg portions and is detachably connected to a fixing hook mounted on the child safety seat, in two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members, the one leg portion at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the pair of leg portions which belong to the one anchor member at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the one pair of the anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the one leg portion at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the pair of leg portions which belong to the one anchor member at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the other pair of the anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said two pairs of anchor members adjacent to each other among said plurality of pairs of anchor members can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

2. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 1, wherein said seat for the vehicle includes a plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, said lower bar extends in the widthwise direction of said seat for the vehicle over the entirety of its width, and said pair of anchor members are fixed on said lower bar in each of said plurality of seat portions adjacent to each other, each pair of anchor members are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the widthwise direction of said seat for the vehicle, in accordance with the width of the corresponding seat portion, in the anchor member at the side of the other pair of anchor members, of the one pair of anchor members in the one of two adjacent seat portions, the one of said leg portions at the side of the other pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, while, in the anchor member at the side of the one pair of anchor members, of the other pair of anchor members in the other of two adjacent seat portions, the one of said leg portions at the side of the one pair of anchor members is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while, the other of said leg portions at the opposite side is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the side of the other of the two adjacent seats, of the one of the two adjacent seats, and said anchor member at the side of the one of the two adjacent seats, of the other of the two adjacent seats can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the seat for the vehicle.

3. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 2, wherein said seat for the vehicle is a rear seat for three users including a right seat portion, a middle seat portion and a left seat portion, and said anchor members and said lower bar are made of metal, and the left leg portion of the anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the right leg portion of the anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, and the left leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the right leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the left side of the middle seat portion and said anchor member at the middle side of the left seat portion can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 2, wherein said seat for the vehicle is a rear seat for three users including a right seat portion, a middle seat portion and a left seat portion, and said anchor members and said lower bar are made of metal, and the right leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the left leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, and the right leg portion of the anchor member at the middle side of the right seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from above or below, while the left leg portion of the anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion is fixed on said lower bar so as to be partially wound around said lower bar from below or above, whereby said anchor member at the right side of the middle seat portion and said anchor member at the middle side of the right seat portion can be disposed more closely adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said locking portion extends along the axial direction of said lower bar, and each of said pair of leg portions extends in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower portion.

6. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein, in said pair of anchor members adjacent to each other in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, said leg portion at the side of the other of said pair of anchor members of the one of said pair of anchor members and said leg portion at the side of the one of said pair of anchor members of the other of said pair of anchor members are arranged in an overlapping manner.

7. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein each of said pair of leg portions includes an arcuate portion extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower bar along the surface of said lower bar, and said pair of anchor members are welded on the surface of said lower bar by means of an arc welding via said arcuate portions.

8. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 5, wherein each of said pair of leg portions includes a straight portion extending in the direction crossing the axial direction of said lower bar, and said pair of anchor members are welded on the surface of said lower bar by means of a spot welding via said straight portions.

9. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said seat for the vehicle includes a rectangular seat back frame which vertically extends, and said lower bar is fixed on said floor panel via a bracket for a seat frame connected to said rectangular seat back.

10. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein said bracket for said seat frame is provided so as to fix and support said intermediate lower portion in the widthwise direction of said rectangular seat back frame, on said floor panel, and said lower bar includes a first portion which extends between the one of said lower end corner portion and said intermediate lower portion, of said rectangular seat back frame and a second portion which extends between the other of said lower end corner portion and said intermediate lower portion, of said rectangular seat back frame, whereby each of said first and second portions is individually fixed on said intermediate lower portion of said bracket for said seat frame.

11. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 10, wherein said bracket for said seat frame is provided so as to fix and support each of said lower end corner portions in the widthwise direction of said rectangular seat back frame, on said floor panel, and a penetrated hole through which said lower bar extends is provided on the bracket for said seat frame.

12. The apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to claim 9, wherein a lower side portion of said rectangular seat back frame extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is utilized as said lower bar.

13. The seat for the vehicle comprises the apparatus for mounting the child safety seat according to any of claims 1 to 12.