FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT
(39 & 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE INSTALLATION OF A UNIVERSAL ISOFIX CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE
Applicants
Tata Motors Limited, an Indian Company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Mr. VINAYAK S GOGATE, Mr. SANJAY Y VAIJ & Mr. Madhav K Argulkar
Indian Nationals Of Tata Motors Limited
An Indian Company having its registered office
At Bomaby House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001
Maharastra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification describes the invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to vehicle seats. In particular, the invention relates to installation of Child Restraint System (CRS) in a vehicle seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Child Restraint Systems (CRS) are special seats for placing children while traveling in an automobile. CRS is anchored to the vehicle structure or adult seat structure & the child is restrained in this anchored CRS. One of the methods of anchoring the CRS to the vehicle/adult seat structure is ISOFIX which is an international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars. This method involves locking of the CRS with matching strikers on vehicle / seat structures. CRS is further provided with an anti rotation feature either in a form of top end tether or a support leg.
The conventional market available CRSs are called as "universal" category CRS. The vehicle owner buys such a CRS of his choice without judging adaptability. In order to ensure adaptability of such universal CRS with the vehicle environment, standardization of CRS design and vehicle design has been developed. As per the standardized procedures, the CRS needs to maintain the dimensions and design of the ISOFIX locks and the support leg. Accordingly the vehicle manufacturer needs to provide standardized ISOFIX lock strikers, location of the support surface for the support leg and space for accommodating the CRS. The support surface is generally a vehicle floor. The standardized procedure has defined the geometric location of the support surface in relation to the ISOFIX CRS lock strikers.
In view of the fore going discussion, there exists a need to provide an apparatus and a

method for checking of installation of the universal ISOFIX CRS in vehicle seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for checking the location of the support leg and the support surface with respect to the ISOFIX strikers in line with standardized procedure, which is portable in configuration and easy in installation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for checking the location of the support leg and the support surface with respect to the ISOFIX strikers in line with standardized procedure, which is simple in construction and cost-effective.
In order to achieve the above mentioned objects the invention discloses an apparatus for checking the location of a support leg and a support surface of a Child Restraint System (CRS) with respect to an ISOFIX striker of a vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a support base having a base plate, a lock unit for engaging with the ISOFIX striker provided on the vehicle seat, and an adjustment block containing an adjustable fork wherein the adjustable fork is slidable in said adjustment block, a locking bolt disposed thereon locks the adjusted position of said adjustable fork with the adjustment block. The apparatus further includes a vertical column for supporting said support base on the said support surface having a slidable block having predetermined longitudinal and vertical dimensions and centered on said vertical column longitudinally, a guide block movable on vertical transverse plane of said vertical column, wherein the end of said adjustable fork is pivoted with the guide block and the axis of said pivot lies in the vertical transverse plane of said vertical column, the guide block containing a hole matching the shape of the vertical column, and a locking crew for maintaining angular position of said

adjustable fork with respect to the vertical column, and a base unit for positioning said vertical column on the support surface. The vertical column and the adjustable fork are graduated in terms of angle of inclination of the support base with the horizontal plane and the scale of said vertical column contains two markings for indicating an acceptable range for positioning of the top surface of said slidable block according to standardized procedure.
In one embodiment, the adjustable block includes a window for reading the adjusted length of said adjustable fork.
In another embodiment, the vertical column is configured in rectangular shape for maintaining the correct orientation of the said slidable block.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and other advantages of the invention will be better understood and will become more apparent by referring to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 illustrates side view of a vehicle seat installed with a universal ISOFIX CRS;
FIG. 2 illustrates schematic requirement for the location of the support surface from the ISOFIX strikers according to standardized procedure;
FIG. 3 illustrates side view of an apparatus positioned on a vehicle seat in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 illustrates positioning of the apparatus on a vehicle seat with different inclinations of the seat base according to the one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where ever possible same numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for checking the location of the support leg and the support surface with respect to the ISOFIX strikers in line with standardized procedure. FIG. 1 shows side view of a vehicle seat (1) with a universal ISOFIX CRS (2) with support leg (2.1). It also shows the ISOFIX latch (2.2) engagement with corresponding latch striker (1.1) on the said vehicle seat. It further shows vehicle floor (5) which is the support surface for the said support leg.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram to explain the dimensions defined for positioning of the said support surface from the said ISOFIX latch strikers in accordance with the standardized procedure. The said support surface is required to be located at dimension vertically downwards from the level of the said ISOFIX latch strikers within dimensions z1 & z2. The said support leg centre is also required to be located at dimensions between x1 & x2 longitudinally. In other words, the said support surface should be located within distance zl & z2 vertically and xl & x2 longitudinally. For ease of understanding an area defined by dimensions xl, x2, zl, z2 is shown with hatched lines. Geometrically the dimensions of the said area is (x2-xl) & (zl-z2) as shown. The terms x2-xl and z2-zl are referred as Ax & Az, for further references. The centre of the said area is located at dimensions x & z in longitudinal & vertical directions. Geometrically x = (xl+x2)/2 and z = (zl+z2)/2.
FIG. 3 shows the side view of said portable apparatus (3) positioned on a vehicle seat (1). The said apparatus includes a support base (3.1) and a vertical column (3.2). The said support base (3.1) contains a lock unit such as locks (3.4) for engagement with the striker (1.1) provided on the said vehicle seat (1). The said vertical column (3.2) is supported on the support surface (5) to check the said dimension z2. The said vertical column (3.2) has also been provided with a slidable block (3.3) with said dimensions Ax & Az. Geometrically the centerline of the said vertical column (3.2) is located at said dimension x. The said vertical column (3.2) has also been provided with a scale to establish the location of the said rectangular box with respect to the said ISOFIX lock strikers.
FIG. 4 shows detailed construction of the said apparatus. The apparatus includes said support base (3.1) and the said vertical column (3.2), explained previously. Further the said support base (3.1) includes pair of ISOFIX CRS locks (3.4), base plate (3.5), an

adjustable fork (3.6) and an adjustment block (3.5.1) for the said adjustable fork (3.6). The said adjustable fork (3.6) is slidable in the said adjustment block (3.5.1). The said adjustment block (3.5.1) contains a locking bolt (3.5.2) for locking adjusted position of the said adjustable fork (3.6). The said adjustable fork (3.6) has been provided with a scale & the said adjustment block (3.5.1) contains a window to read the adjusted length of the said adjustable fork (3.6). The fork end of the said adjustable fork (3.6) is pivoted with a guide block (3.8) for the vertical column (3.2). The axis of said pivot is in the vertical transverse plane of the said vertical column (3.2). The said guide block (3.8) contains a hole to suit the shape of the said vertical column (3.2). The said guide block (3.8) also contains a locking crew (3.8.1) to maintain the angular position of the said adjustable fork (3.6) and the said vertical column (3.2). The said vertical column (3.2) is rectangular in shape to maintain the correct orientation of the said slidable block (3.3). The said vertical column (3.2) is provided with a base (3.11) for positioning the same on the support surface (5). The slidable block (3.3) is provided on the said vertical column (3.2). The longitudinal and vertical dimensions of the said slidable block (3.3) are the said Ax & Az respectively. The said slidable block (3.3) is centred on the said vertical column longitudinally. The said vertical column (3.2) and the said adjustable fork (3.6) are provided with scales graduated in terms of the angle θ, as explained in FIG. 5. The said vertical column (3.2) scale contains two markings which indicate the acceptable range for positioning of the top surface of the said slidable block (3.3).
The said ISOFIX CRS locks (3.4) have been provided with an arrangement to retract when not in use so that there are no dangers of injuries and also the locks can be adequately protected when not in use. The said adjustment block (3.5.1) is rigidly attached to the said base plate (3.5).

FIG. 5 shows 3 possible orientations of the said apparatus on the vehicle seat (1). The details of the said 3 orientations are -
• support base of apparatus along the horizontal plane,
• support base of apparatus at an angle θ1 from horizontal plane , and
• support base of apparatus at an angle θ2 from horizontal plane.
It also shows additional distances V, H. V and H are also shown with suffixes 1 and 2 corresponding to the said angles 01 and 02.
X is a fixed horizontal distance between the strikers (1.1) of the said ISOFIX lock strikers and the said vertical column (3.2) centre. It has also been described in FIG. 2.
Z2 is a fixed vertical distance between the strikers (1.1) of the said ISOFIX lock strikers to the allowable higher position of the said support surface (5). It has also been described in FIG. 2.
V is the distance between the said pivot and the top surface of the said slidable block (3.3).
H is the distance between the axis of the said latch strikers and the said pivot for the vertical column (3.2).
During checking of the ISOFIX CRS installation, the dimensions X & Z need to be maintained appropriately.
As seen from the FIG. 5, for maintaining X, the dimension H needs to be changed as with change in the said angle 0 as per trigometric relation X = H.cos 0. Therefore with changing 0, H needs to be changed. H is changed by adjusting the length of the said

adjustable fork (3.6). In order to avoid any calculations, the scale on the adjustable fork (3.6) is graduated in terms of 9 to adjust the position of the said adjustable fork (3.6) accordingly.
Similarly positioning of the top surface said adjustable box needs to be maintained at fixed distance of Z from the said ISOFIX CRS lock striker (1.1). The only reference available for locating the said distance Z1 is the said pivot between the vertical column (3.2) and the said adjustable fork (3.6). This distance is shown as V in FIG. 5. The said distance V is variable with change in the said angle 0. The trigonometric relation between the said distances V & X is : V = X.tan θ.Tn order to avoid efforts for calculating V, the scale provided on the said vertical column (3.2) is graduated in terms of θ. The scale contains two such markings, separated by a distance Az, as explained in FIG. 2. These markings define the higher and lower limits for the position of the said adjustable box.
A typical checking procedure of universal ISOFIX CRS installation is as follows;
1. the ISOFIX CRS locks are brought out to the use position,
2. with help of these locks, the apparatus is engaged with the mating strikers on the seat / vehicle structure,
3. the support base of the apparatus is allowed to settle,
4. inclination of the support base with horizontal (0) is measured with a suitable inclinometer,
5. based on the value of 0, the length of the adjustable fork is adjusted & locked at the that position,
6. the vertical column is aligned with the vertical axis suitably with spirit level,
7. the base of the vertical column is allowed to settle on the proposed support surface for the CRS support leg,

8. the adjustable block is allowed to settle on the vertical column,
9. the top surface of the said adjustable block is checked against the limits marked on the vertical column.

10. if the top surface lies below the higher limit and above the lower limit marked for the corresponding θ. Such a vehicle would then be compliant for fitting of universal ISOF1X CRS.
11. If the top surface is above the higher limit, then the support leg could not be positioned and the child seat could not be installed. If the top surface lies below the lower limit that means the CRS can be installed however the support could not be supported.
It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

We claim:
1. An apparatus for checking the location of a support leg and a support surface of a Child Restraint System (CRS) with respect to an ISOFIX striker of a vehicle seat comprising:
a support base having: a base plate;
a lock unit for engaging with the ISOFIX striker provided on the vehicle seat; and
an adjustment block containing an adjustable fork wherein the adjustable fork is slidable in said adjustment block, a locking bolt disposed thereon locks the adjusted position of said adjustable fork with the adjustment block;
a vertical column for supporting said support base on the said support surface having:
a slidable block having predetermined longitudinal and vertical dimensions and centered on said vertical column longitudinally;
a guide block movable on vertical transverse plane of said vertical column, wherein the end of said adjustable fork is pivoted with the guide block and the axis of said pivot lies in the vertical transverse plane of said vertical column, the guide block containing a hole matching the shape of the vertical column, and a locking crew for maintaining angular position of said adjustable fork with respect to the vertical column; and
a base unit for positioning said vertical column on the support surface,
wherein the vertical column and the adjustable fork are graduated in terms of angle of inclination of the support base with the horizontal plane and the scale of said

vertical column contains two markings for indicating an acceptable range for positioning of the top surface of said slidable block according to standardized procedure.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable block comprises a window for reading the adjusted length of said adjustable fork.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertical column is configured in rectangular shape for maintaining the correct orientation of the said slidable block.