[0001] The present disclosure relates to a child seat anchorage structure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a child seat anchorage structure for securing a child seat on a rear vehicle floor.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] It is desirable to install a child seat on a vehicle seat when children ride in automobiles. Typically, the child seat is attached to the vehicle seat using one of the passenger seat belts. More recently, vehicles have been equipped with an additional child seat anchorage structures 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0003] However, during a vehicle crash, the child seat is pulled forward due to inertia. This sudden pulling force is transferred to a vehicle body structure through the child seat anchorage structures 102 attached at two connection points with the child seat. These connection points in the child seat anchorage system include wires as per regulation. Further, the connections of the wires to a vehicle floor 104 is made by welding of the wires on:
(i) Separate brackets (b1 & b2) are welded on a rear vehicle floor: as shown in FIG. 1. The two brackets b1 and b2 need to be positioned such that there is sufficient clearance for welding of the joineries between rear vehicle floor 104 and side body. Also, there is a packaging requirement for seat belt and seat belt mountings in the same region of rear floor on the inner side. This makes the welded type concept usable only in vehicles with higher track width and packaging area.
(ii) a transverse tube (b3): As shown in FIG. 2, the transverse tube b3 joining the two brackets b1 and b2. The transverse tube b3 extends on both sides of either brackets b1 and b2 (for strength and manufacturing requirement) and occupies enough space which impact the packaging area of seat belt and seat bolt mountings around the center of the vehicle rear floor. This again makes it usable for vehicles with higher track width & packaging area.
[0004] All the above-described anchorage structures are suitable for vehicles with large track width. However, for vehicles with smaller track width, providing welding based structure or structures with an extended tube is not practically possible. In the existing vehicle with small track width, multiple parts such as seat mounting bracket, seat belt fixing plate, ISOFIX mounting arrangements, luggage board mountings (in some cases), etc. need to be attached/mounted in the given packaging space or area. Since the track width of the vehicle is small, thus no margin is available for welding or for extending the tube. Also, in the vehicle, the distance between seat belt mountings is predefined as per the regulation and the distance between the hooks on the child seat by which the child seat gets secured on the rear seat is also predetermined as per regulation for child seat anchorages. Thus, with the above-given constraints, it becomes a troublesome task to accommodate the mounting of ISOFIX and all other parts with a given space of vehicles with smaller track width. Hence, a solution is required to solve the problem and also meet the safety regulations.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a child seat anchorage structure that can avoid bending forces during a crash.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure is to provide a layout of the rear vehicle floor with a child seat anchorage structure that is compatible with big vehicles as well as small vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a child seat anchorage structure for securing a child seat on a rear vehicle floor with smaller and larger track width. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0009] The present disclosure provides a child seat anchorage structure for securing a child seat on a rear vehicle floor. The structure comprises an inner bracket, an outer bracket mounted adjacent to the inner bracket, and a tubular structure having an outer end and an inner end. The tubular structure is connected to the inner bracket and the outer bracket transversely along the vehicle width wherein the outer bracket forms a complete connection with the outer end of the tubular structure by a first wire welded on the tubular structure and the inner bracket forms a partial connection with the inner end of the tubular structure, and a second wire is welded on the inner bracket such the second wire is bent inward for providing a clearance along the vehicle width.
[0010] In an aspect, the clearance is provided between the inner end of the tubular structure and an inner seat belt mounting area adjacent to the inner bracket.
[0011] In an aspect, the first wire and the second wire form a loop-like structure extending upward from the outer bracket and the inner bracket, respectively.
[0012] In an aspect, the loop-like structures are provided at a predetermined position and having a predetermined distance between them.
[0013] In an aspect, the hooks of a child seat are attached with the loop-like structures formed by the first wire and the second wire.
[0014] In an aspect, the inner bracket and the outer bracket each comprise at least a hole for getting fastened with the rear vehicle floor by bolts.
[0015] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a rear vehicle floor for securing a child seat, the rear vehicle floor comprising at least a pair of child seat anchorage structures disclosed in the present disclosure fixed on the rear vehicle floor with a predetermined space between them.
[0016] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0017] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a child seat anchorage in accordance with state of the art;
[0020] FIG. 3A and 3B illustrate a perspective view of a child seat anchorage structure and a magnified view of one of the child seat anchorage structure, respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a seat mounting layout of a child seat anchorage structure with fixed size constraints in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate perspective views of a connected or fixed child seat anchorage structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a section I-I of FIG. 5A of the child seat anchorage structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0025] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0026] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0027] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0028] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0030] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0031] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 3A illustrates child seat anchorage structures 300 on a rear vehicle floor 104 of a passenger vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The child seat anchorage structures 300 as shown in FIG. 3A provides required structural strength and stability for the child seat under the dynamic loading condition of a crash and optimized packaging reduces the packaging space requirement. The desired performance is achieved by the load distribution from the child seat anchorage structures 300 to the strong rear vehicle floor structure. The optimized packaging is achieved by modifying the shape and size of components that lead to providing more space to package seat mounting, seat belt mounting & in some cases luggage board mounting.
[0033] FIG. 3B shows a magnified view of one of the child seat anchorage structures 300. In an aspect, the child seat anchorage structures 300 is an ISOFIX anchorage structure. The child seat anchorage structure 300 comprises an inner bracket 302, an outer bracket 304 mounted adjacent to the inner bracket 302, and a tubular structure 306 having an outer end 306a and an inner end 306b. The tubular structure 306 is connected to the inner bracket 302 and the outer bracket 304 transversely along the vehicle width. In the child seat anchorage structure 300 of the present disclosure, the inner bracket 302 doesn’t support the transverse tubular structure 306 completely thereby reducing the packaging space requirement without compromising on performance and provides adequate structural strength & stability for the child seat under the dynamic loading condition of the crash. The load transfers from the child seat anchorage structure 300 to the rear vehicle floor structure are achieved by providing the complete overlap of tubular structure 306 with the outer bracket 304 and partial overlap with the inner bracket 302. In an aspect, the outer bracket 304 forms a complete connection with the outer end 306a of the tubular structure 306 and a first wire 308 is welded on the tubular structure 306, also the inner bracket 302 forms a partial connection with the inner end 306b of the tubular structure 306 and a second wire 310 is welded on the inner bracket 302. Due to the partial connection of the tubular structure 306 with the inner bracket 302, the tubular structure 306 and the inner bracket 302 are subjected to torsional loads instead of bending loads and this meets the desired overall performance of the child seat anchorage structure 300.
[0034] FIG 3B also shows the unique joinery of a second wire 310 with the inner bracket 302 and the tubular structure 306. The second wire 310 is bent inward and welded on to the inner bracket 302 which in turn is welded on the tubular structure 306 with partial overlap. This helps in providing clearance A between the inner end 306b of the tubular structure 306 and a seat mounting area or a seat belt mounting area or luggage board mounting area 312 adjacent to the inner bracket 302. If the second wire 310 is not bent inward and is fixed similarly like the first wire 308 then the second wire 310 may get rubbed by the seat belt and /or inner seat belt mounting. Such interference may cause damage to both of the components and its functionality. The shortening of tubular structure 306 and partially overlapped by the inner bracket 302 at the inner end 306b of the tubular structure 306 by using the second wire 310 and bending the second wire 310 inward provide sufficient clearance A for easy positioning of the inner seat belt mounting without causing any interference. Thus, the child seat anchorage structure 300 is compatible for big vehicles as well as small vehicle (in terms of track width) packaging requirements as it provides the desired strength in minimum possible space along with increased space availability for the inner seat belt mountings & child seat anchorage structures 300 in the same region of the rear vehicle floor 104.
[0035] In an aspect, the first wire 308 and the second wire 310 forms a loop-like structure extending upward from the outer bracket 304 and the inner bracket 302, respectively. The loop-like structures are provided at a predetermined position and having a predetermined distance between them as per regulation. Further, hooks of a child seat are connected or attached with the loop-like structures formed by the first wire 308 and the second wire 310 for securing the child seat. These loop-like structures enable in fixing the child seat in the correct position.
[0036] In an aspect, the inner bracket 302 and the outer bracket 304 each comprises at least a hole 302a and 304a for getting fastened with the rear vehicle floor 104 with the help of fasteners such as bolts.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a seat mounting layout for the child seat anchorage structures 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For a vehicle, the width 401 is fixed, which is derived on the basis of track width and the required supporting structure in vehicle underbody. Thus, various widths of other components and spaces between components such as a gap 401a between ISOFIX brackets or the inner and outer brackets 302 and 304 of the child seat anchorage structure 300, gap 401b between seat belt mountings 402, gap 401c between an outer seat belt mounting 404 and inner seat belt mounting 402, etc. are designed to be packaged within the width 401. Since the specified gap 401b between the inner seat belt mountings 402, gap 401c between the outer seat belt mounting 404 and the inner seat belt mounting 402 are fixed and predetermined as per regulatory requirement and the gap 401a between the ISOFIX brackets on which hooks are provided for securing a child seat is predetermined due to child seat anchorage regulations, the layout of the present disclosure is optimized to accommodate inner seat belt mountings 402 and in some cases the luggage board mounting along with child seat anchorage structures 300 within the available vehicle width without compromising with performance. The gap 405 between the inner seat belt mounting 402 and the inner end 306b of the tubular structure 306 (FIG. 3B) is provided to have sufficient clearance between the two components in order to maintain the assembly clearances and avoid any hindrance in functionality. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the child seat anchorage structures 300 in accordance with the present disclosure are packaged on the rear vehicle floor 104 along with seat belt mountings 402 (all in the same region), such that the layout of all these do not impact the strength requirements & functionality of each other. FIGS. 5A and 5B show mounting or connection of the child seat anchorage structure 300 with the rear vehicle floor 104 in accordance with the present disclosure. The rear vehicle floor 104 for securing a child seat comprising at least a pair of child seat anchorage structures 300 fixed on the rear vehicle floor 104 with a predetermined space between them. In a preferred aspect, the child seat anchorage structure 300 is connected or fixed to the rear vehicle floor 104 using fasteners such as bolts 502 that also helps in load transfer.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates section I-I of FIG. 5A of the child seat anchorage structure 300. The rear vehicle floor rear panel 602, a rear vehicle floor bottom cross member 604, and a rear vehicle floor center panel 606 are connected one after another. Further, the rear vehicle floor 104 is provided over the rear floor bottom cross member 604. On the rear vehicle floor 104, the inner bracket 302 is connected by bolt 502, which partially overlaps the tubular structure 306.
[0039] Thus the present disclosure provides a child seat anchorage structure 300 that can be used for vehicles having a small and large track width, and that can meet performance requirement during an event of a vehicle crash.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0040] The child seat anchorage structure 300 proposed herein results in the following technical advantages:
(i) Provides improved arrangement and connection of transverse tube and brackets which meets required strength and stability,
(ii) Provides more space by optimized packaging which facilitates seat mounting, seat belt mounting or luggage board mounting, etc. within the limited vehicle width without causing any interference, and
(iii) Compatible with a vehicle having small as well as large track width.
Equivalents
[0040] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified in light of the above teachings.

Claims:1. A child seat anchorage structure (300) for securing a child seat on a rear vehicle floor (104), comprising:
an inner bracket (302);
an outer bracket (304) mounted adjacent to the inner bracket (302); and
a tubular structure (306) having an outer end (306a) and an inner end (306b), the tubular structure (306) connected to the inner bracket (302) and the outer bracket (304) transversely along a vehicle width,
wherein the outer bracket (304) forms a complete connection with the outer end (306a) of the tubular structure (306) and the inner bracket (302) forms a partial connection with the inner end (306b) of the tubular structure (306)
2. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first wire (308) is welded at the outer end (306a) of the tubular structure (306) and a second wire (310) is welded on the inner bracket (302) adjacent to the inner end (306b) of the tubular structure (306) is bent inward for providing clearance (A) along the vehicle width.
3. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clearance (A) is provided between the inner end (306b) of the tubular structure (306) and an inner seat belt mounting area (312) adjacent to the inner bracket (302).
4. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wire (308) and the second wire (310) forms a loop-like structure extending upward from the outer bracket (304) and the inner bracket (302), respectively.
5. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the loop-like structures are provided at the predetermined position and having a predetermined distance between them.
6. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein hooks of a child seat are attached with the loop-like structures formed by the first wire (308) and the second wire (310).
7. The structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner bracket (302) and the outer bracket (304) each comprise at least a hole (302a, 304a) for getting fastened with the rear vehicle floor (104) with the help of bolts (502).