United States Patent
`
`1191
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,671,971
`
`Koyanagi et a].
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Sep. 30, 1997
`
`U8005671971A
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING FASTENING
`POSITION 0F FASTENING MEANS 1N SEAT
`BELT DEVICE
`
`[‘15]
`
`Inventors: Toshiro Koyanagi; Yayoi Hashimoto,
`both of Pfikone; Haruyllki Takagi,
`Tokyo, all of Japan
`
`['13] Assignee: Takata Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] App]. No; 375,467
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jan. 19, 1995
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation of Sen No. 981,201, Nov. 25, 1992, aban-
`doned.
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 5,1991
`
`[JP]
`
`Japan
`
`3—322098
`
`A471: 1108-, A47C 13100
`Int. le'
`[51]
`29712501; 2971463; 2971435
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`297/250, 463,
`[58] Field of Search
`2971482, 485, 250.1, 188.11, 144, 145,
`188.01; 21-1168 F, 68.5 B, 200, 198, 197
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`311942 Shaulson
`241200
`2,273,153
`311951 Reinberger
`2412170
`2,565,629
`
`811965 Roing
`..... 24168F
`3,203,053
`1211965 Paimleafctal...
`...... 24168F
`3,222,745
`3,547,489 1211970 Grieser
`..... 2971468
`3,606,453
`911971 (Seem ..................................... 2971468
`
`
`
`4,482,187 1111984 Nagashima et a].
`4,635,740
`311937 F6111
`4,925,245
`511990 Pendietonetal.
`5,093,157
`311992 Surot
`5,103,152
`411992 Reillyetal.
`5,228,746
`711993 Bufleigh
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`2971485
`2971453
`29711331
`29712501
`2971434
`2971435-
`
`911958 Germany .. 2911144
`308616
`
`931970 Germany
`2911144
`1965111
`2917469 1111980 Geunany
`2911468
`
`Pfimaw Examiner—Bibhu Mohanty
`Attorney Agent, or Fimz—Airnstrong, Westerrnan, Hattori,
`McLeland 81. Naughton
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An apparatus for adjusting the fastening position of fasten-
`ing means in a seat belt device includes a seat-portion body
`(7) provided with a belt guide (120) and a retaining spring
`(119). Ordinaiily, the belt guide (120) is set in a non-use
`position at which the belt guide is engaged and retained by
`the retaining spring (119). When in use, the belt guide (120)
`is detached from the retaining spring (119), projected to the
`left and turned to insert projecting portions (120a), (1201'!)
`thereof into respective grooves (23), (24). As a result, the
`belt guide (120) assumes a state in which the guide portion
`(12111111) is projected outwardly of the seat portion. When the
`guide portion (120:!) is made to guide the vehicle seat belt
`(131), the portion at which a tongue (123) and buckle (124)
`are fastened together is ofiset from the corner of the p10-
`tective seat“), as aresult of which the engagement between
`the tongue (123) and buckle (124) of the seat belt (131) is
`made more reliable.
`
`5 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Page 1 0f 27
`
`BRITAX EXHIBIT 2001
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 1 of-20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.1
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`Page 2 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 2 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.2
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`Page 3 0f 27
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 3 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.3'
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`Page 4 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 4 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.4
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`
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`
`
`“5'
`tun?
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`
`
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`lawmunn"
`"my”
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`Page 5 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 5 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.5
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`Page 6 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 6 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Fig.6
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`__.I
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`mummmmmm...“
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`Page 7 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 7 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 3 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`US. Patent
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`9999,1997
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`Sheet 9 of 29
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`5,671,971
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`55a
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`Fig.9(b)
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`55d
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`Page 10 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 10 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Page 11 of 27
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`US. Patent
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`$1213.30, 1997
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`Sheet 11 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`80
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`30
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`81
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`Fig.l|(b)
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`Page 12 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 12 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`5'7
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`505156b
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`Fig.12
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`Page 13 0f 27
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 13 of 20
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 14 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`F i g. 15
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`IL_________
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`Page 15 of 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 15 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`1153!:
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`119a
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`'
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`119
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`Fig.l6{b)
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`F i g. 17
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`Page 16 0f 27
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`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 16 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`
`
`INFANT-RESTRAINING
`PROTECTIVE SEAT
`
`
`
`122
`
`
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`Page 17 0f 27
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 17 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 18 of 20
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`Sep. 30, 1997
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`Sheet 20 of 20
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`5,671,971
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`120
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`
`
`120q
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`120r 1205 12m@1205
`
`131
`
`Fig 23( b)
`
`120r
`Fig 23(c )
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`Page 21 0f 27
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`

`

`1
`
`2
`
`5,671,971
`
`APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING FASTENING
`POSITION 0F FASTENING MEANS IN SEAT
`BELT DEVICE
`
`This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
`07981201 filed Nov. 25, 1992, now abandoned.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE lNVEN'I'ION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to a seat belt device installed in the
`
`ll]
`
`seat of a vehicle and having at least a seat belt and fastening
`means such as a tongue and buckle, for restraining and
`protecting a passenger seated in the seat, wherein the seat
`belt device is capable of securing an infant-restraining
`protective seat for restraining and protecting an infant. More
`particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for adjust—
`ing the fastening position of the fastening means in the seat
`belt device.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In a vehicle such as an automobile or airplane, restraining
`protective seats for infants have been used in order to
`maintain the seated posture of an infant during travel and to
`protect the infant from shock at the time of acceleration and
`deceleration. An infant restraining and protective seat of this
`kind has a reclinable seat main body reclinably attached to
`a base member and adapted to seat an infant, and an infant
`seat belt device for restraining the seated infant. The infant
`seat belt device has an infant seat belt, a chest-contact pad
`attached to the end of the infant seat belt, a tongue provided
`on the end of the chest-contact pad, and a buckle, provided
`on the seat main body, capable of holding the tongue in such
`a manner that the tongue can be freely engaged with and
`disengaged from the buckle. In a state in which the tongue
`is engaged with and locked by the buckle, the infant is
`restrained by the infant seat belt and chest-contact pad.
`In a vehicle seat to which the infant-restraining protective
`seat is secured, the lateral width of the vehicle seat differs
`depending upon the type of vehicle, such as an automobile
`or airplane. Even if the vehicle is of the same type, the lateral
`width of the vehicle seat differs depending upon the model
`and size of the vehicle. When the lateral width of the vehicle
`seat diifers in this manner, the following problem arises with
`regard to fixing the infant—restraining protective seat to the
`vehicle seat: Specifically, in a case where the width of a
`vehicle seat 122 is large in comparison with the width of an
`infant-remaining protective seat 1, there will be instances in
`which the portion where a tongue 12.3 of the vehicle seat belt
`device and a buckle 124 thereof engage happens to be
`situated at the corner of the protective seat 1 when the
`tongue and buckle are fastened together, as shown in (a) of
`FIG. 19, after the protective seat 1 has been secured to the
`vehicle seat. When the tongue 123 and buckle 124 are joined
`in such a state, the connection between the two is unstable
`
`SUMIMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention is to provide an
`An object of the present
`apparatus for adjusting the fastening position of fastening
`means in a seat belt device, wherein an infant‘restraining
`protective seat is capable of being secured reliably to a
`vehicle seat in a stable state even if the width of the
`protective seat differs greatly from that of the vehicle seat.
`According to the present
`invention in a first aspect
`thereof, the foregoing object is attained by providing an
`apparatus for adjusting a fastening position of fastening
`means in a seat belt device, which is installed in a seat of a
`
`15
`
`‘25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4s
`
`55
`
`65
`
`vehicle and has at least a seat belt and fastening means such
`as a tongue and buckle, for restraining and protecting a
`passenger seated in the seat, wherein the seat belt device is
`capable of securing an infant-restraining protective seat for
`retraining and protecting an infant, characterized in that the
`apparatus adjusts the fastening position of the fastening
`means when the fastening means is fastened in order to
`secure the infant—restraining protective seat to the vehicle
`seat.
`
`In a second aspect of the invention, the invention is
`characterized in that the apparatus comprises at least a belt
`guide for guiding the seat belt in a lateral direction.
`In a third aspect of the invention, the apparatus is char-
`acterized in that the belt guide is provided on the infant—
`restraining protective seat.
`the apparatus is
`In a fourth aspect of the invention,
`characterized in that the belt guide is set at non—use and
`in-use positions.
`In a fifth aspect of the invention, the apparatus is char-
`acterized in that the belt guide is provided so as to be
`movable laterally and so as to be tiltable with respect to the
`infant-restraining protective seat.
`In a sixth aspect of the invention, the apparatus is char-
`acterized in that the belt guide is provided so as to be
`movable laterally with respect to the infant~restraining pro-
`tective seat.
`
`the apparatus is
`In a seventh aspect of the invention,
`characterized in that the belt guide comprises two blocks
`each in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the blocks
`being pivotally connected.
`In the apparatus for adjusting the fastening position of the
`fastening means in the seat belt device according to the
`invention constructed as set forth above, the seat belt is
`guided in at least the lateral direction or has its length
`shortened. As a result, the fastening position of the fastening
`means of the seat belt device is moved to the left or right.
`Accordingly, when the fastening means is fastened in order
`to secure the infant—restraining protective seat to the seat of
`the vehicle, the fastening means assumes a position offset
`from the corner of the protective seat. This makes it possible
`to secure the protective seat to the vehicle seat; stably and
`reliably even if the widths of the protective seat and vehicle
`seat differ greatly from each other.
`Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in
`part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the
`specification.
`The invention accordingly comprises the features of
`construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of
`parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein—
`after set forth, and the scope of the invention will be
`indicated in the claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of an infant-
`restraining protective seat, in which the left half of the seat
`has been cut away, provided with an embodiment of an
`apparatus for adjusting the fastening position of fastening
`means in a seat belt device according to the present inven*
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a side view showing this example of the
`infant-protective seat with a portion thereof cut away;
`FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main body of a seat
`portion in this example;
`FIG. 4 is a side view showing the main body of the seat
`portion in this example;
`
`Page 22 of 27
`
`

`

`3
`FIG. 5 is aperspective view showing a base portion in this
`embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a front view showing a seat back in this example;
`FIG. 7 illustrates an upper bracket in this example, in
`which (a) is a plan view thereof and (b) an enlarged view of
`a locking hole;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a lower bracket in this example, in which
`(a) is a front view thereof and (b) a plan view;
`FIG. 9 illustrates an operating lever of a seat—back tilting
`control device in this example, in which (a) is a side view
`thereof and (b) a front view;
`FIG. 10 is a view showing a locking pin in this example;
`FIG. 11 illustrates a cam plate of the seat—back tilting
`control device in this example, in which (a) is a plan view
`thereof and (b) a sectional view taken along line XDCB—
`XIXB;
`FIG. 12 is a view for describing the operation of the
`locking pin and cam plate in the seat—back tilting control
`device of this example;
`_
`FIG. 13 is a view for describing the action of a cover seat:
`FIG. 14 is a view showing the set position of a belt guide
`as well as the mounting position of a retaining spring for
`retaining the belt guide in an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`
`FIG. 15 is a view for describing the Operation of the belt
`guide;
`FIG. 16 illustrates the retaining spring of this
`embodiment, in which (a) is a front view thereof and (b) a
`plan view;
`FIG. 17 is a view showing the belt guide of this embodi-
`ment;
`
`FIG. 18 is a view showing the belt guide in the mounted
`state;
`
`35
`
`FIG. 19 is for describing the belt guide, in which (a) is an
`explanatory view for a case where there is no belt guide and
`(b) an explanatory view for a case where there is a belt
`snide;
`FIG. 20 partially illustrates another embodiment of the
`present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view and (b)
`a Eront view;
`FIG. 21 partially illustrates still another embodiment of
`the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view and
`(b) a sectional view and;
`FIG. 22 partially illustrates a further another embodiment
`of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view
`showing the embodiment not in use and (b) a perspective
`view showing the embodiment in use.
`
`45
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`An embodiment of the present invention will now be
`described with reference to the drawings.
`As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an infant-restraining
`protective seat 1 according to the embodiment of this
`invention includes a seat portion 2 for seating an infant, a
`seat back 3 tiltably attached to the seat pcrtion 2 for
`supporting the back of the infant, a seat-back tilting control
`device 4 for controlling tilting of the seat back 3, an infant
`seat belt device 5 for restraining the infant seated on the seat
`portion 2, and a shoulder-belt adjusting device 6 for adjust-
`ing the upand~down position of a shoulder belt 511 in the
`infant seat belt device 5.
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The seat portion 2 comprises a seat-portion body 7 and a
`base portion 8 supporting the seat—portion body 7. As
`
`Page 23 of 27
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`5,671,971
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`4
`illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat—portion body 7 is
`constituted by a central portion 9 which directly seats the
`infant, and left and right side walls 10, 11 formed respee
`tively on the left and right sides of the central portion 9.
`These components are formed as a unitary body consisting
`of a plastic shell. Formed in the forward part of the central
`portion 9 is a first recess 12 for accommodating a buckle 5d
`of the infant seat belt device 5, described later, and an
`operating lever 55 of the seat-back tilting control device 4,
`also described later.
`
`Formed across the middle of the central portion 9 in terms
`of the longitudinal direction thereof is a second recess 14
`having a V—shaped cross section. The arrangement is such
`that a tongue 123 and buckle 124 of a passenger-restraining
`seat belt device installed at a vehicle seat 122 of a vehicle
`such as an automobile or airplane and used also for securing
`the infant-remaining protective seat 1 to the vehicle seat are
`situated within the second recess 14.
`'
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The rear portions of the left and right side walls 10, 11 are
`formed to have respective turning support portions 18, 19, of
`substantially circular shape, at which turnng portions of the
`control device 4 are supported The turning support portions
`18, 19 are provided at their centers with a turning-shaft
`through-hole 21 through which a turning shaft 20 for rotat—
`ably supporting the seat back 3 is passed, and at their
`rearward lower portions with a locking-pin through-hole 22
`through which a locking pin 56 (the details of which will be
`described later) of the control device 4, which pin is for
`locking the seat back 3 at a set predetermined angular
`position, is passed.
`The outer sides of the left and right side walls 10, 11 are
`formed to have pairs of grooves 23, 24; 25, 26; respectively,
`having upwardly open substantially V—shaped cross sections.
`These grooves are situated at positions corresponding to the
`second recess 14. In a case where the lateral width of the
`protective seat 1 for infants is considerably smaller than the
`width of the vehicle seat to which the protective seat 1 is
`secured, a pair of projecting portions 120e, 120d of a belt
`guide 120 (shown in FIG. 1'?) which guides a seat belt 121
`installed at the vehicle seat are supported by these grooves
`23, 24, 25, 26 when the belt guide is used.
`As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base portion 8 also is formed
`of a plastic shell and is formed to have a prescribed number
`of mounting holes 27 into. which screws for attaching the
`seat-portion body are tightly screwed. As shown in FIG. 2,
`the seat-portion body '7 is attached to a mounting portion 27
`on the base portion 8 by means of sweets 23. The left and
`right sides of the base when 8 are provided with a pair of
`respective belt-guide through-holes 29, 30 through which a
`turning shaft 120?: of the aforesaid belt guide is passed so as
`to be capable of turning.
`As shown in FIG. 6, the seat back3 is constituted by a seat
`back portion 31 which directly supports the back of the
`seated infant, and left and right side walls 32, 33 plovided
`respectively on the right and left: sides of the seat back
`portion 31. These also consist of a plastic shell. The central
`portion of the seat back 31 is provided with a pair of
`vertically extending guide holes 34, 35 each having the
`shape ofparallelograro. Abelt guide 101 in the shouldfi-belt
`adjusting device 6 is passed through each of the guide holes
`34, 35. The arrangement is such that the belt guide 101 may
`be moved up and down while being guided in the guide
`holes 34, 35.
`The left and right side walls 32 and 33 atportions near the
`seat back portion 31 are provided respectively with mount-
`ing portions 38, 39, 40 and 41, 42, 43 into which screws for
`
`

`

`5,671,971
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`5
`
`attaching an upper bracket 50 (shown in FIG. 7) of the
`seat-back tilting control device 4 are tightly screwed.
`The lower ends of the left and right side walls 32, 33 are
`formed to have respective turning support portions 46, 47, of
`substantially circular shape. in which turning portions of the
`seat—back control device 4 are accommodated and sup
`ported. The turning support portions 46, 47 are centrally
`provided with respective through-holes 48, 49 into each of
`which a projecting portion 125:; on the central portion of a
`rotating shaft cover 125 (shown in FIG. I), described later,
`is inserted.
`
`the seat-back tilting
`As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
`control device 4 includes left and right upper brackets 50
`attached respectively to the left and right side walls 32, 33
`of the seat back 3, left and right lower brackets 51 attached
`respectively to the left and right side walls 10, 11 of the
`seat-portion body 7, a torsion spring 54 interposed between
`an upper hook pin 52 attached to the upper bracket 50 and
`a lower hook pin 53 attached to the lower bracket 51, an
`operating lever 55, the locking pin 56, a cam plate 57 for
`controlling movement of the locking pin 56 bonneen a
`locking position and an unlocking position, a case 58 for
`slidably accommodating and supporting the locking pin 56
`and the cam plate 57, a biasing spring 97 for constantly
`biasing the cam plate 57 in such a direction that the locking
`pin 56 assumes the locking position, and an operating-force
`transmitting link 59 connected between the operating lever
`55 and the cam plate 57 for transmitting the operating force
`of the operating lever 55 to the cam plate 57 against the
`biasing force of the biasing spring 97.
`As illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper bracket 50 has the shape
`of a flat plate and is constituted by an upper rectangular
`portion 50:: and. a lower circular portion 50b. The rectan-
`gular portion 50a is provided with three vertically aligned
`screw holes 60, 61, 62 through which screws for attaching
`the upper bracket 50 to the seat back are passed.
`The circular portion 50b is provided with a hole 64
`through which the turning shaft 20 is passed so as to be
`capable of turning relative the circular portion. Further, in
`order that the seat back 3 may be locked at any of three
`reclining angles, three locking holes 65, 66, 6'7 through
`which the locking pin 56 is passed are formed in the circular
`portion 501; on the circumference of a circle of a prescribed
`radius from the center of the hole 64. In order to lockthe seat
`back 3 at the folded position, the circular portion 50b is
`provided with a locking hole 68,
`located on the same
`circumference as the locking holes 65, 66, 67, through which
`the locking pin 56 is passed. As shown in (b) of FIG. 7, each
`of the locking holes 65, 66, 6'7, 68 is elliptical in firm], with
`the ellipse having a minor axis f and a major axis g. In this
`case, the minor axis 1" is set to have a size that allows the
`locking pin 56 to be passed through and slid along the hole
`with almost no gap between the pin 56 and the walls of the
`hole. Further,
`the locking holes 65, 66, 67, 68 are so
`arranged that the minor axis f of each hole lies in the
`circumferential direction of a circle concentric with the hole
`64 while the major axis g of each hole lies in the diametric
`direction of the circle concentric with the hole 64. The
`circular portion 50 is further provided with a longitudinally
`extending guide slot 69. A guide 113 of supporting means
`102 is guided up and down by the guide slot 69.
`As illustrated in FIG. I, the upper bracket 50 is secured to
`the seat back 3 by passing screws through the screw holes
`60, 61, 62 and screwing them into the mounting holes 38, 39,
`40 of the seat back 3.
`
`As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 8, the lower bracket 51
`is formed to have a semicircular pcn'tion 51:: on its upper
`
`10
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`15
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`6
`part, while its lower part is formed to have a mounting
`portion 51b fastened to the seat-portion body 7 by screws.
`The semicircular portion 51:: has a centrally provided cir-
`cular hole 73 through which the turning shaft 20 is passed
`The semicircular portion 51a is further provided with a
`guide slot 74 along an arc concentric with the hole 73. The
`upper hook pin 52 is passed through the guide slot 74 and is
`turnably guided thereby when the seat back 3 is tilted. The
`lower bracket 51 includes also a hole 75 through which the
`locking pin 56 is slidably passed. In this case, the through—
`hole 75 is provided at such a position that the length of a line
`between the center of the hole 75 and the center of the hole
`73 will be equal to the radius of the circle, which is centered
`on the hole 64, on which the locking holes 65, 66, 67 of
`upper bracket 50 are provided. The upper bracket 50 is
`secured to the seat-portion body 7 by screws (not shown).
`As fllusu'ated in FIG. 1, the turning shaft 20 is passed
`through the hole 73 of the lower bracket 51, which is secured
`to the seat-portion body 7, and is supported on the lower
`bracket 51, and the upper bracket 50 secured to the seat back
`3 is situated on the outer side of the lower bracket 51 and is
`tiltably supported by passing the turning shaft 20 through the
`hole 64. In this case, the upper bracket 50 is prevented from
`falling off the turning shaft 2-0 by a retaining ring '77. A cover
`78 of the turning shaft 20 is attached so as to cover the
`turning shaft 20 by fitting a projection 78a of the cover 78
`into the through-hole 48 of the seat back 3 and screwing a
`screw into the end portion of the turning shaft 20. The upper
`hook pin 52 secured to the upper bracket 50 is passed
`through the guide slot 74 so as to extend to inner side of the
`lower bracket 5] and is situated between the turning support
`portions 18, 19 of the seat-portion body 7.
`In addition, the torsion spring 54 is interposed between
`the upper hook pin 52 and the lower hook pin 53 secured to
`the lower bracket 51. Thus, the seat back3 is attached to the
`seat-portion body 7 so as to be capable of tilting about the
`turning shaft 20. In this case, one of the locking holes 65, 66,
`67, 68 of the upper bracket 50 registers with the through-
`hole 75 of the IOWer' bracket 51 depending upon the angular
`position to which the seat back 3 has been tilted.
`As shown in FIG. 9, the operating lever 55 includes an
`opaating portion 550 arranged in the recess 12 of the
`seat-portion body 17 for actuating the operating lever 55,
`and a connection portion 55d to which the operating-force
`transmitting link 59 is connected.
`As shown in FIG. 10, the locking pin 56 is formed from
`a round bar, one end of which is formed to have a earn
`follower 56a bent at a right angle. The earn follower 56a is
`fitted into cam slots 80, 81 (shown in FIG. 19) of the cam
`plate 57 and is moved by movement of the cam plate 57
`while being guided by the cam slots 80, 81. The other end
`of the locking pin 56 is fonned to have a locking portion
`56b. Owing to movement of the locking pin 56 while it is
`being guided by the cam slots 80, 8], the locking portion 56b
`is passed through one of the locking holes 65, 66, 67, 68 of
`the upper bracket SI] and the through-hole 75 of the lower
`bracket 51 so as to lock the upper bracket 50 and the lower
`bracket 51. In this case, the other end of the locking pin 51
`is provided with a charnfer A. The locking portion 56b is
`passed through the locking holes 65, 66, 6'7, 68 and the
`through-hole 75 more easily by virtue of the chamfer A.
`As illustrated in FIG. 11, the cam plate 57 is formed
`substantially as a flat plate. In cam plate 57 as it appears in
`FIG. 11, the upper edge is formed to have the pair of cam
`slots 80, 81, which diverge from each other from the top
`down, into which the cam follower 56a of the locking pin 56
`
`Page 24 of 27
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`5,671,971
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`is inserted. The lower edge of the cam plate 57 is provided
`with a hole 82 to which one end of the operating-force
`transmitting link 59 is connected, and with a hole 83 to
`which one end of the biasing spring 97 (shown in FIG. 2),
`which biases the cam plate 57 upward at all times as seen in
`FIG. 11, is connected.
`
`5
`
`As illustrated in FIG. 2, the operating-force transmitting
`link 59 has one end thereof connected to the hole 559 of the
`
`connecting portion 55d of operating lever 55. The other end
`of the link 59 is connected to the hole 82 of the cam plate
`57
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`10
`
`In the seat—back tilting control device 4 thus constructed,
`the cam follower 56a of the locking pin 56 ordinarily is set
`at the lowermost end of the cam slots 80, 81 by the biasing
`spring 97, as described above, and the locking pin 56 is
`projecting to the maximum degree. With the locking pin 56
`in this state, as shown in FIG. 12, the locking portion 56b is
`fitted into any one of the locking holes 65, 66, 67, 68 and the
`through-hole 75. The locking pin 56 therefore is in the
`locking position. As a result, the seat back 3 is set at a
`prescribed reclining angle or in the folded position. When
`the cam plate 57 is moved downward in FIG. 12 by pulling
`the operating lever 5 forward, the cam follower 56a is
`guided by the cam slot 80, and therefore the locking pin 56
`moves to the right. When the cam follower 56a is situated at
`the uppermost end of the cam slot 80, as indicated by the
`phantom lines, the locking portion 56b exits completely
`from one of the locking holes 65, 66, 67, 68 and from the
`through-hole 75, whereby the locking pin 56 assumes the
`unlocking position. As a result, the seat back3 is free to tilt.
`The infant seat belt device 5 includes left and right
`shoulder belts 50, a chest-contact pad 5!; connected to the
`shoulder belts So, a tongue 5:: attached to the lower end of
`the chest-contact pad Sb,
`the buckle 5:1 with which the
`tongue 5c locks, and a retractor Se for taking up a webbing.
`which unites the left and right shoulder belts 5a into a single
`body, through the back of the seat back 3. The infant seat belt
`device 5 is substantially identical with that of the prior art.
`As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover seat 98 is supported
`on the turning shaft 20, which tiltably supports the seat back
`3 relative to the seat portion 2, so as to be capable of tilting
`between the position indicated by the solid line and the
`position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 2, the cover
`seat 98 being situated between the left and right lower
`brackets 51. The cover seat 98 is formed in such a manner-
`that when it is at the position indicated by the solid line in
`FIG. 2, it will cover the second recess of the seat-portion
`body 7 and cooperate with the seat surface 74 at the forward
`part of the seat-portion body 7 and a seat-back surface 31a
`of the seat back portion 31, which constitutes the seat back
`3, to render continuous the seat surface of the protective seat
`1 and the surface of the seat back. As a result, the infant can
`be seated safely and reliably.
`When the cover seat 98 is at the position indicated by the
`phantom line in FIG. 2. on the other hand, it opens the
`second recess 14 of the seat-portion body 7. As result, when
`the protective seat 1 is attached to and detached from a
`vehicle seat, as shown in FIG. 13, the operation for fastening
`and unfastening of the tongue 12.3 and buckle 124 of the seat
`belt device, which is installed at the vehicle seat and situated
`in the second recess 14, can be paformed easily from above
`the front of the protective seat 1 (i.e., from the direction of
`arrow B).
`As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoulder-belt adjusting
`device 6 includes the belt guide 101 for guiding the shoulder
`belts of the infant seat belt in such a manner that the position
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`15
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`8
`of the shoulder belts can be adjusted up or down. the
`supporting means 102 for supporting the belt guide 101, the
`vertically extending screw shaft 103 for moving the sup-
`porting means 102 up and down, the operating knob 104
`turnably attached to one of the left and right side walls 32,
`33 (the left side wall 33 in the example illustrated) of the seat
`back 3, and the torque link 105 which connects the operating
`knob 104 and the screw shaft 103 while producing a.
`right-angle change in direction, and which transmits the
`rotational torque of the operating knob 104 to the screw shaft
`103. The belt guide 101 is capable of being moved up and
`down in such a manner that the hole 106 through which the
`belt is passed is moved up and down between an upper~limit
`position C and a lower—limit position D.
`When the operating knob 104 is turned in the shoulder-
`belt adjusting device 6 thus constructed,
`the rotational
`torque is transmitted to the screw shaft 103 via the torque
`link 105, whereby the screw shaft 103 is turned. Turning the
`screw shaft 103 in one direction lowers the belt guide 101,
`whereas turning the screw shaft 103 in the other direction
`raises the belt guide 101. Thus, the position of the shoulder
`belts of the infant seat belt device can be continuously
`adjusted up and down.
`As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, a retaining spring 119
`for retaining the pair of belt guides 120 (the details of which
`will be described later) is fixedly secured to the left and right
`side walls of the seat-portion body '7 in the vicinity of the
`other inclined surface of the second recess 14. As depicted
`in FIG. 16, the retaining spring 119 comprises a resilient
`member the center of which is provided with a mounting
`hole 119a. The left and right ends of the spring 119 are
`provided with retaining portions 119b, 1196 which resil-
`iently retain the two projecting portions of the belt guide.
`The belt guide 120 is supported on the base portion 8 at
`a position corresponding to the lowermost part of the second
`recess 14 so as to be capable of turning and of moving to the
`left and right. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the belt guide 120
`comprises a guide portion 120a for guiding the seat belt 131
`of the vehicle, a turning shaft 120!) provided on one end of
`the guide portion 120a and passed through belt—guide
`through-holes 29, 30 {shown in FIG. 5) of the base portion
`8 so as to be capable of timing and of moving axially, and
`two projecting portions 1206, 120d upstanding from the
`guide portion 120a. The two projecting portions 1206, 120d
`are formedrespectively to have recesses 1202, 120f engaged
`by the respective retaining portions 119b, 119:: of the
`retaining spring 119.
`As indicated by the solid line in FIG. 15, the belt guide
`120 ordinarily is set in a state in which it is not used, namely
`in a