WO2012068623A1

WO2012068623A1 - A car mounting for a child seat

Info

Publication number: WO2012068623A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/001512
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Seddon; John Nielsen
Original assignee: SWIFT SEAT INTERNATIONAL Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SWIFT SEAT INTERNATIONAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-11-24
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2012-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-24

Abstract

This invention relates to a mounting for a child seat in cars that have a split-fold rear seat. The mounting has a connecting member and is adapted to rigidly connect an elevated portion of the child seat to a car. The elevated portion may be a back-rest portion or a seat portion of the child seat depending on whether the child seat is forward-facing or rearward-facing when mounted in the car. The invention also relates to a child seat and to an assembly including the child seat and the mounting.

Description

A CAR MOUNTING FOR A CHILD SEAT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to child seats for vehicles . The invention particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a mounting for a child seat in cars that have a split-fold rear seat. The invention also relates to a child seat and to a child seat assembly. Background

Passenger safety in a car is important, and is particularly important for children.

The primary safety measure is restraints which, for adults and tall children, comprise lap-sash seatbelts that extend over the hips to a buckle, diagonally across the torso and over a shoulder. In an accident, the lap portion prevents "submarining", i.e. sliding of the body below the restraint, and the torso portion restrains the upper body.

Young children, such as toddlers and infants, however, are at risk of injury in collisions because the lap-sash seatbelts does not restrain the child in the same way as an adult.

Specifically, the torso portion may pass over the throat or head of the child or may not contact the child at all . The lap portion may sit across the belly of the child rather than over the hips, and thereby causing abdominal injuries or submarining in a collision.

For such children, restraints that pass over each shoulder and over the hips and between the legs to a central buckle are preferred. These are commonly referred to as a 5-point harness. However, such restraints are not a standard feature of vehicles . A child seat is required instead to cater for young children. Such seats typically comprise a plastics moulded seat that is appropriately sized for comfortably seating a child and a child restraint such as that mentioned above . However, the child seat, in one form, is installed in a car with the lap-sash seatbelt. In addition, Australian standards require an upper portion of the child seat to be restrained from a separate anchor point. This additional restraint is important for reducing lateral movement of the child seat in a side impact collision . The additional restraint is provided by a seatbelt webbing strap that links the child seat to the anchor point. Specialist fitters install the additional restraint to ensure that the child seat is properly fitted to a car.

The additional restraint is effective in reducing lateral movement, so child seats that are correctly fitted with the additional seatbelt webbing strap appropriately tensioned are effective in reducing injuries in side- impact collisions .

It will be appreciated, however, that the child seat cannot be removed from the car without unfastening the seatbelt and removing the additional restraint. Therefore, re-installing the child seat requires a specialist to reinstall the child seat each time. The motivation,

therefore , is to maintain a child seat in a car . But this creates problems in terms of convenience because a significant amount of rear seat space is lost and there are occasions when two or three adults need to travel in the rear seat.

For example, taxis generally do not carry child seats in the boot because to do so would involve sacrificing boot space . Most fares do not require use of boot space , but it is an important factor that determines whether airport fares can be picked up. As a result, taxis return to base to pick up and install a child seat. But this consumes time and may result in missing other fares .

Alternatively, taxis simply refuse to accept fares that require a child seat. In which case the taxi is

disadvantaged through the loss of a potential fare and the prospective fare disadvantaged due to limited availability of taxis. The more common alternative, however, is that the child travels in the arms of a parent or carer, i.e. without a proper childseat or restraint.

In the circumstances of a family car, the same luggage-capacity sacrificing problems apply. However, in most cases the child seat will be installed in the car for long periods of time . This is due to a perception that the child seat is more conveniently left installed in the car because the effort to remove the child seat, store it and then reinstall the child seat when required next is too great . As a result, there is limited flexibility in use of the car because the rear seat cannot generally be occupied by more than one adult when the child seat is installed. Unless there is a particularly great need, alternative travel arrangements generally will be made and the child seat will remain installed in the car .

In another form, the child seat is installed via interlocking elements on the child seat that co-operate with a base module fitted to the car post-production. The base module is a large moulded plastics structure that sits on the rear seat and is fastened to the car by Isofix points or by the lap-sash seat belt. This particular form allows the child seat to be designed as a capsule that clicks-in and out of the base module so the child seat can be removed more readily from the car. It also allows the same child seat to be used in rear-facing and forward- facing arrangements depending on the age and size of the child. However, this form of child seat still relies on an additional restraint linking the child seat to a separate anchor point. The position of the anchor point creates problems because, from a structural point of view, the preferred position is at the rear of a boot space (also known as the "trunk") so the anchor is fitted to stronger structural components of the car. However, this limits boot space and provides particular problems with fitting a stroller in the boot space .

Some car manufacturers have recognised this problem and prefer to locate the anchor point on the floor of the boot space immediately behind the seat. There are fewer structural components in this area, so the anchor is typically fixed to a cover panel which provides a less secure anchor point. Additionally, this anchor position causes the strap to pass over and to compress foam cushioning at the top of the rear seat. It has been found that the foam may be permanently compressed, thereby reducing the re-sale value of the car.

A further problem is that, when the child seat is in the rear facing position, the strap connected to the anchor passes from a position roughly at the headrest of the child seat and passes rearwardly at a level generally equivalent to the height of the rear seat. Accordingly, lifting a child into and out of the child seat involves lifting the child over the straps and reaching down over the straps into the child seat while cradling the child. This places considerable strain on the back and arms of a person moving a child into or from the child seat. Some people slacken the strap to avoid this problem.

There are concerns about the safety of the child seat when the straps are re-tightened because the appropriate strap tension may not be reached. As a result, additional lateral movement is enabled, thereby increasing the risk of serious injury to a child in the event of a side-impact collision .

Summary of the Disclosure

The applicant has recognised that problems with lateral movement of a child seat are largely caused by the reliance on webbing straps to restrain the headrest section of child seats. In particular, the applicant has recognised that the straps are not tensioned to the degree necessary to reduce lateral movement to an extent that injury risk in a side impact collision is significantly reduced. For the most part, the failure to tension the straps properly arises from improper installation of child seats in cars and from slackening and re-tightening the straps when accessing the child seat.

The applicant has also recognised that the problems with lateral movement are also partly caused by the proximity of the anchor points to which the straps are linked. Specifically, the applicant has recognised that longer straps enable more lateral movement.

Accordingly, the applicant has developed a mounting for a child seat that, generally speaking, involves a rigid connection between the child seat and the car . The mounting also involves the connection being in close proximity to the child seat.

In particular, there is provided in a first aspect a mounting for a child seat in a car, the mounting having a connecting member and being adapted to rigidly connect an elevated portion of the child seat to a car. The mounting is preferably fixable to a car at position to restrain the elevated portion when the seat is installed in a car.

The child seat may comprise a seat portion and a back rest portion, wherein the back rest portion comprises the elevated portion when the child seat is installed in a forward-facing position in a car and wherein the seat portion comprises the elevated portion when the child seat is installed in a rearward-facing position in a car.

The rigid connection significantly reduces the extent to which a child seat is able to move laterally in a collision. Accordingly, the mounting enables the child seat to act in the manner for which it was designed in the event of a collision. It is anticipated that the child seat, therefore, is able to better protect a child in a collision . Furthermore, forming the rigid connection with an elevated portion of the child seat is important because it enables the mounting to replace webbing straps that link at or near a head rest portion of the child seat so access to the child is improved for transferring a child into or out of the child seat. Typically, child seats are

restrained at their base, for example with Isofix points, but the top portion of the child seat is unrestrained or is retrained by seatbelt webbing straps and, therefore, it can be subject to lateral movement. Rigidly restraining the elevated portion provides improved security to the entire child seat by working with seat base restraints .

An important aspect of the rigid connection is that it provides the user with a clear indication that the child seat is properly installed. This indication is partly from the fact that the child seat does not shift or shifts only a very small amount when an attempt is made to move the child seat. For the most part, however, the indication arises typically from the clear difference between free movement of the seat when it is not coupled to the mounting and the immobility of the seat when it is coupled. With webbing straps, mobility of the child seat varies with variations in the tension of the straps . There is no clear distinction between the child seat being properly or improperly installed. The mounting according to the first aspect provides users with a clear indication so users are able operate the mounting to install and uninstall a child seat whenever necessary without

compromising on safety and without the need for a

specialist installer. The connection means may be configured to connect rigidly with the child seat at two or more separate points .

The connecting member may comprise clamping means for rigidly clamping the child seat.

The clamping means may be selectively operable to restrain and release the child seat. The connecting member may be configured to fix to a car at a position so that rigid connection with the elevated portion is enabled when the child seat is located on a rear side of a rear seat when the rear seat is in a folded position.

The position may be behind an upper portion of the rear seat when the rear seat is in an operative position in which a passenger is able to sit in the rear seat. The connecting member may provide aural or visual confirmation that the connection means is rigidly

connected with the child seat . The mounting may further comprise a rear seat connecting member for connecting the child seat with the rear seat.

The rear seat connecting member may be configured to rigidly connect with the child seat to secure the child seat to a rear side of the rear seat when the rear seat is in a folded position.

The rear seat connecting member may comprise an element for interlocking with an element on the child seat to form a rigid connection and a body shaped to guide the elements together .

Locating the connecting member behind an upper portion of the rear seat and locating the rear seat connecting member on the rear side of the rear seat enables the child seat to be installed when the rear seat is folded. It also enables the child seat to be removed and passed into the boot space while the rear seat is folded. The rear seat can then be returned to an upright position for carrying an adult passenger. Accordingly, the mounting provides considerable convenience in terms of removing and storing the child seat whenever necessary. The same applies when the child seat is needed. In which case, the rear seat is folded, the child seat is retrieved from the boot space and is installed on the connecting member and the rear seat connecting member . This process is faster and easier than installing and removing

conventional child seats .

There is also provided in a second aspect a child seat apparatus comprising:

(a) a mounting according to the first aspect described above ; and (b) a child seat comprising elements for interlocking with the mounting to rigidly connect the child seat to a car.

The elements comprise a catch that interlocks with the mounting when they are forced together and that is selectively actuable to release the mounting upon . The mounting may include an anchor and the catch may comprise spring-loaded jaws for clamping onto the anchor for forming a rigid connection. It will be appreciated, however, that the mounting may comprise the catch and the elements on the child seat may comprise the anchor.

The child seat may include interlocking elements on each of the back rest portion and the seat portion for interlocking with the connecting member and the rear seat connection means respectively when the child seat is installed in a forward-facing position.

The child seat may include further interlocking elements on the seat portion for interlocking with each of the connecting member and the rear seat connecting member respectively when the child seat is installed in a rearward-facing position.

The seat portion may include an extension arm with one of the further interlocking elements to enable rigid connection of the seat portion with the connecting member when the child seat is installed in the rearward-facing position.

The extension arm may be linked to the seat portion to enable the extension arm to be retained within the footprint of the child seat in the forward-facing

position. There is provided in a third aspect a child seat assembly in a car comprising a child seat in accordance with the second aspect and wherein :

(a) the rear seat connection means is fixed to a rear side of the rear seat and

(b) the connecting member is fixed to a portion of the car at a position so that rigid connection with the elevated portion is enabled.

The connecting member may be fixed to a parcel shelf of the car or may be fixed to a frame at a location rearward of an upper portion of the rear seat.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of installing a child seat on a mounting in accordance with the first aspect, the child seat having elements for interlocking with the connecting member at a location rearward of an upper portion of the rear seat and rear seat connection means fixed to a rear side of the rear seat respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) folding the rear seat to expose the rear seat

connecting member for interlocking with elements on a seat portion of the child seat;

(b) pressing the elements of the seat portion and the rear seat connection means together to cause them to interlock ;

(c) pressing the connection means and elements on an

elevated portion of the child seat together to cause them to interlock, thereby causing a rigid connection between the child seat and the car. Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the assembly will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings , in which : Figure 1 is a rear oblique view of a child seat and a mounting fixed to a car in a forward-facing position in accordance with an embodiment of the first aspect and with side panel sections of the car cut away. Figure 2 is a rear oblique view of the child seat and mounting in Figure 1 with the child seat connected to the mounting .

Figure 3 is a forward oblique view of the mounting in Figure 1 without the child seat.

Figure 4 is an underside view of the child seat in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an oblique front view of the child seat in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a rear oblique view of the child seat and mounting in Figure 1 with the child seat in a rearward- facing position.

Figure 7 is a side view of the child seat and mounting in Figure 6 showing a cross-section of a rear seat and parcel shelf of a car.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of a mounting, in the form of a child seat mounting 10, for mounting a child seat 12 to a car is shown in Figures 1 to 7.

The car is the type having a rear seat 2 formed by separate, but pivotally connected, seat 6 and seat back 4 such that the seat back 4 can fold forwardly down onto the seat 6. This form of rear seat is common in many

conventional cars and is termed a split-fold rear seat because the seat back of the entire rear seat is split into two or more parts that may be folded separately. This folding movement provides access to a boot space of the car. In the circumstance that the child seat 12 is stowed in the boot space, it can be retrieved through an access gap formed by folding the seat back 4 onto the seat 6.

The child seat mounting 10 comprises a connecting member, in the form of an upper mount 20, for rigidly connecting an elevated portion of the child seat 12 to a parcel shelf 8 of a car. The mounting 10 also comprises a rear seat connecting member, in the form of a base mount 30 , for rigidly connecting a base portion of the child seat 12 to a rear side of the seat back 4.

As shown in Figure 1 , the child seat 12 is positioned in a forward-facing position on the rear side of the seat back 4. The child seat 12 is plastics injection moulded to provide a contoured seat for a child. The contoured seat has back rest portion, in the form of a child seat back rest 14, and a seat portion, in the form of a child seat base 16. Child seats for cars typically have a padded seat liner for the comfort of the child and a restraint harness. However, for convenience, these are omitted from the Figures and any form of seat liner and restraint harness may be used in conjunction with the child seat 12.

Panels 17 extend down the back rest 14 and across the base 16 in a general L-shape and are spaced apart, parallel arrangement. The panels 17 reinforce the child seat 12 by increasing the stiffness of the seat in the plane of the panels 17. This structure is typical among child seats . Plates 26 are located on outer sides of the panels 17 and are correspondingly shaped. Fasteners (not shown) fix the plates 26 to the panels 17 and further increase the rigidity of the child seat 12. Tie bars 28 link the plates 26 at locations that coincide with the location of catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 that are operable to connect the child seat 12 to the upper mount 20 and the base mount 30.

Specifically, one catch 40 is positioned high on the back rest 14 in a location for interlocking with the upper mount 20 when the child seat is in a forward-facing position. A further catch 41 is positioned on the base 16 in a location for interlocking with the base mount when the child seat 12 is in a forward facing position.

For connecting the child seat 12 to the car in a rearward facing position, catch 42 is positioned in a rearward location on the base 16, relative the orientation of a child sitting in the child seat 12 , for interlocking with the base mount 30 so the child seat 12 is a reclined position.

Catch 43 is located at a free end of an arm 18 that is pivotally mounted to a forward portion of the base 16 so the arm 18 can be stowed within the footprint of the base 16 (i.e. between the panels 17 that extend across the base 16) when the child seat 12 is installed in a forward facing position. The arm 18 is able to be pivoted into an extended position as shown in Figures 4 to 7 such that when the arm 18 is extended, the catch 43 can be

interlocked with the upper mount 20 when the child seat is in a rearward-facing position.

Each catch 40, 41, 42 and 43 is formed to rigidly connect with the upper mount 20 or the base mount 30. The rigid connection arises because the catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 are formed as rigid components and the mounts 20 and 30 are also formed as rigid components.

There may be a very small amount to free play when the connection is formed, but mounting the child seat 12 to the upper mount 20 will remove lateral movement of the child seat 12 relative to the car to the extent that the catch 40 mechanically interlocks with the mount 20. The same applies for the catch 41 mechanically interlocking with the mount 30 and for catches 42 and 43 respectively mechanically interlocking with mounts 20 and 30. In that sense, the child seat is rigidly connected to the car.

The combined use of mounts 20 and 30 cause the child seat 12 to be mechanically interlocked with the car such that the movement of the child seat relative to the car is very small, i.e. only to the extent that any free play permits. The connection otherwise prevents forward, rearward or upward movement that may be experienced when using flexible webbing straps to secure the child seat 12 to the car and also placing the child seat 12 on

compressible portions of the rear seat of the car . In that sense also, the connections formed between the catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 and the mounts 20 and 30 are rigid

connections. Each catch 40, 41, 42 and 43 provides feedback that the rigid connection is formed. The feedback is provided by the formation of a rigid connection .

Accordingly, the catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 are formed to provide a snap-lock fit with the upper mount 20 and the base mount 30. The snap-locking provides further aural feedback that the childseat 12 is properly installed. In addition to providing feedback on proper installation, it will be appreciated that the snap-lock fit of the catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 also improves the ease with which the child seat 12 can be installed. The catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 each comprise a pair of spaced jaws which interlock with the a loop 24 of the upper mount 20 or with loops 36 of the base mount 30 to provide the rigid connection. The jaws are located slightly inwardly of each respective plate 26 so that the jaws are inboard of an imaginary a plane that follows the outermost edge of the plates 26. In this manner, the child seat 12 can be transferred to and from the boot space by skidding on the outermost edge of the plates 26 without interference by the catches 40, 41, 42 and 43.

In an alternative form, the jaws of catch 40 may be located on an outboard side of the plates 26. Such location avoids interference with harness restraints that may be located in the same region of the back rest 14.

In a further alternative form, the jaws of catches 41, 42 and 43 may be located on an outboard side of the plates 26.

Each catch 40, 41, 42 and 43 comprises a fixed jaw 46 and a pivoted jaw 48 that is hinged to the fixed jaw to provide pivotal movement relative thereto. The fixed jaw 46 has a U-shaped slot for receiving a loop 24 or loop 36. The pivoted jaw 48 also has a U-shaped slot but it is arranged perpendicularly to the slot of the fixed jaw 46. The jaws 46, 48 overlap in a clamping position so that the slots coincide to leave a small gap that receives loop 24 or loop 36. In this position, a force placed on the loop 24 or 36 to pull it clear of the slots bears on the pivoted jaw 48 in a direction that is on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot in the fixed jaw 46 and intersecting the pivot point of the jaws 46, 48. In this manner, the force is directed through the pivot point and the jaws 46, 48 remain in a clamping position. The pivoted jaw 48 is urged by a spring (not shown) into a clamping position in which the jaws 46, 48 are closed in a locking position. In this position, the jaws 46, 48 lock with the loop 24 or the loop 36 so that mere pulling on the child seat 12 will not cause the child seat to release from the upper mount 20 or the base mount 30.

A leading edge 37 of each pivoted jaw 38 is curved to guide location of the loop 24 or the loop 36 to the point where the jaws 46, 48 overlap. Accordingly, forcing the child seat against the loop 24 and the loop 36 forces the jaws 46, 48 apart to an open position in which the loop 24 and the loop 36 are able to pass into the U-shaped slots of the jaws 46, 48. As the loop 24 or the loop 36 passes the leading edge 37, the jaws 46, 48 close behind under bias of the spring, thereby interlocking the loop 24 with the catch 40 or 42 and the loop 36 with the catch 41 or 43 respectively . The catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 include a release tab

(not shown) that is accessible on an outer side of one or other of the plates 26. The release tab is connected to an axle that extends between the plates 26 and from which a bar extends to engage a lug on each pivoted jaw 48. The release tab can be used to open the jaws 46, 48 by forcing the jaws 46, 48 apart to an open position against the bias of the spring. In the open position, the jaws 46, 48 are pivoted apart to an extent that enables the loop 24 or the loop 36 to be released. Accordingly, the child seat can be released from the upper mount 20 and the base mount 30 by actuating the release tabs that are associated with the operative catches 40, 41, 42 and 43 and pulling the child seat clear of the upper mount 20 and the base mount 30. In an alternative form shown in Figures 1 to 3 , a release tab 52 is incorporated with the base mounting 30 together with a bar 58 for acting on the pivoted jaw 48 of the catch 41 to open the catch 41 and release the child seat 12.

The upper mount 20 comprises an anchor block 22 that is fixed to an underside of the parcel shelf 8 behind an upper portion of the seat back 4. Accordingly , when the seat back 4 is folded, the upper mount 20 is revealed and is accessible for installing the child seat 12. The loop 24 of the upper mount 20 comprises a rigid loop 24 formed of steel or other material having a sufficiently high tensile strength for restraining the child seat 12, and a child retrained in the child seat 12, in the event the car is involved in a collision. The loop 24 is sufficiently wide so that a pair of jaws 46, 48 interlocks with the loop 24.

The base mount 30, however, comprises two loops 36 that are spaced apart by a distance equivalent to the spacing of the pair of jaws 46, 48 that form the catch 41 or catch 42. Both loops 36 are located in a wide grove bound by end walls 34 that are spaced apart slightly more than the plates 26 so that positioning of the child seat 12 to bring the catches 41, 42 together with the loops 36 is facilitated by the end walls 34 guiding the plates 26.

The child seat 12 is installed in a forward-facing position by placing the back rest 14 in a position to overlap the upper mount 20 and with the base 16 over the rear side of the seat back 4. The catches 40 and 41 are brought into contact with the loop 24 and the loops 36 respectively and then forced together so that the catches 40, 41 are forced into an open position to accept and interlock with the loop 24 and the loops 36.

The child seat 12 is removed by actuating the release tabs of each catch 40, 41 and by pulling the child seat free of the upper mount 20 and the base mount 30. The rear seat can then be made available for use by an adult by tilting the seat back 4 up to its normal operative position. However, before doing so, the child seat 12 may be stowed in the boot space by passing the child seat through the access gap into the boot space. Alternatively, the child seat 12 may be removed from the car and stored elsewhere . In order to use the child seat 12 with infants, the child seat 12 may be installed in the car in a rearward- facing position. This is achieved with the arm 18.

Specifically, the arm 18 is pivoted on an axle 19 so that it can be stowed underneath the base 16 between the plates 26. The plates 26 extend downwardly below the base 16 to an extent that overlaps the arm 18 when stowed such that plates 26 rest on the body 32 of the base mount.

When placed in the rearward-facing position, the arm 18 is pivoted out from underneath the base 16 so that it is generally parallel with the base 16 and extending therefrom. The catch 42 is then connected to the base mount 30 and the catch 43 on the arm is connected with the upper mount 20. As the upper mount 20 is rigidly fixed to the parcel shelf 8 and as the arm 18 is rigid, the child seat 12 is rigidly connected to the car.

The child seat 12 is released from the rearward- facing position by, again, actuating the release tabs of the catches 42, 43, stowing the arm 18 and then stowing the child seat in the boot space or storing the child seat 12 elsewhere.

Cars such as hatch backs and station wagons do not have a suitable parcel shelf 8 or other structure to which the upper mount 20 can be fixed. In the absence of such a structure or parcel shelf, a frame (not shown) is installed in the boot space immediately behind the rear seat 2 and includes at least a section that extends behind an upper portion of the seat back 4 to which the upper mount 20 can be fixed. The frame has a rectangular shape and is dimensioned to be roughly equivalent to the dimensions of the seat back 4 so that, when the seat back 4 is folded, the access gap to the boot space is generally unimpeded by the frame. Therefore, the child seat 12 can be passed through the frame and the access gap to and from the boot space as is required.

Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention .

For example, it will be appreciated that many cars are already fitted with Isofix points for child seats . In such cars , the base mount 30 may be omitted and the upper mount 20 retained in a position that is accessible without folding the seat back 4. The child seat is secured to the car by the combination of Isofix points acting on the base 16 and the upper mount 20 acting on the back rest 14. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Any mention of an aspect of child seats or child seat mounts for cars that is said to be known or typical is not an admission in any jurisdiction that the aspect is part of the common general knowledge of a skilled pers that jurisdiction .

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A mounting for a child seat in a car, the mounting having a connecting member and being adapted to rigidly connect an elevated portion of the child seat to a car .

2. The mounting as defined in claim 1 , wherein the child seat comprises a seat portion and a back rest portion and wherein the back rest portion comprises the elevated portion when the child seat is installed in a forward- facing position in a car and wherein the seat portion comprises the elevated portion when the child seat is installed in a rearward-facing position in a car.

3. The mounting as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the connecting member is configured to connect rigidly with the child seat at two or more separate points .

4. The mounting as defined in any one of the preceding claims , wherein the connecting member further comprises clamping means for rigidly clamping the child seat.

5. The mounting as defined in claim 4 , wherein the clamping means is selectively operable to restrain and release the child seat.

6. The mounting as defined in claim 4 or claim 5 , wherein mounting is configured to fix to a car at a position so that rigid connection with the elevated portion is enabled when the child seat is located on a rear side of a rear seat when the rear seat is in a folded position.

7. The mounting as defined in claim 6 , wherein the position is behind an upper portion of the rear seat when the rear seat is in an operative position in which a passenger is able to sit in the rear seat.

8. The mounting as defined in any one of the preceding claims , wherein the connecting member provides aural or visual confirmation that the connection means is rigidly connected with the child seat .

9. The mounting as defined in any one of the preceding claims , wherein the mounting further comprises a rear seat connecting member for connecting the child seat with the rear seat.

10. The mounting as defined in claim 9, wherein the rear seat connecting member is configured to rigidly connect with the child seat to secure the child seat to a rear side of the rear seat when the rear seat is in a folded position.

11. The mounting as defined in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the rear seat connecting member comprises an element for interlocking with an element on the child seat to form a rigid connection and comprises a body shaped to guide the elements together.

12. A child seat apparatus for a car, the child seat apparatus comprising:

(a) a mounting according to any one of the preceding

claims ; and

(b) a child seat comprising elements for interlocking with the mounting to rigidly connect the child seat to a car.

13. The child seat apparatus defined in claim 12 , wherein the child seat comprises interlocking elements on each of the back rest portion and the seat portion for

interlocking with the connecting member and the rear seat connecting member respectively when the child seat is installed in a forward-facing position.

14. The child seat apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein the child seat further comprises interlocking elements on the seat portion for interlocking with each of the connecting member and the rear seat connecting member respectively when the child seat is installed in a rearward-facing position.

15. The child seat apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein The seat portion further comprises an extension arm with one of the further interlocking elements to enable rigid connection of the seat portion with the connecting member when the child seat is installed in the rearward-facing position.

16. The child seat apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein the extension arm is linked to the seat portion to enable the extension arm to be retained within the footprint of the child seat in the forward-facing position.

17. A child seat assembly in a car, the assembly

comprising a child seat in accordance with any one of claims 12 to 16 and wherein:

(a) a rear seat connecting member is fixed to a rear side of the rear seat and

(b) a connecting member is fixed to a portion of the car at a position so that rigid connection with an elevated portion of the child seat is enabled.

18. The child seat assembly defined in claim 17, wherein the connecting member is fixed to a parcel shelf of the car or is fixed to a frame at a location rearward of an upper portion of the rear seat.

19. A method of installing a child seat on a mounting in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11, the child seat having elements for interlocking with a connecting member at a location rearward of an upper portion of the rear seat and with a rear seat connecting member fixed to a rear side of the rear seat respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) folding the rear seat to expose the rear seat

connecting means for interlocking with elements on a seat portion of the rear seat;

(b) pressing the elements of the seat portion and the rear seat connecting member together to cause them to interlock ; pressing a connecting member and elements on an elevated portion of the child seat together to cause them to interlock, thereby causing a rigid connection between the child seat and the car.