Vehicle infant seat system

Abstract

An infant seat has a car seat (10, fig 1) mountable on a turntable 22 so that it can rotate on a base (20, fig 1), 24 mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, where in at least one orientation o

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle infant seat system and to a method of using a vehicle infant seat. Infant seats for vehicles. that fit to a base inside the vehicle have been known for many years. Some such seats are capable of rotating on the base to alter the orientation of the infant seat, for example to facilitate placement of the infant in the seat or its removal therefrom. However, even with the seat rotated towards the vehicle door, it is often necessary to lean into the vehicle in order to reach the infant. Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an infant car seat for attaching to a base in which the aforementioned issues are at least addressed. The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims, to which reference should now be made. Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an infant vehicle seat system comprising a base portion mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, a turntable mounted on the base portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and a seat mountable on the turntable, wherein in at least one orientation of the turntable with respect to the base portion the turntable and seat are additionally moveable together laterally with respect to the base portion. In a preferred arrangement, the base portion has a base portion axis X and is mountable in the vehicle such that axis X is substantially parallel with a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The seat and turntable are preferably rotatable about an upright rotation axis Z that is substantially perpendicular to the base portion axis X. The seat preferably has a longitudinal seat axis. The seat axis is preferably arranged substantially parallel with the X axis in a travel configuration. In a preferred arrangement, the seat and turntable are prevented from lateral movement with respect to the base portion when the seat axis is substantially parallel to the axis X. Preferably, the seat and turntable are permitted to move laterally with respect to the base portion in a release configuration, which release configuration preferably corresponds to a position in which the seat and turntable are rotated about axis Z to form an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees, more preferably between 80 degrees and 100 degrees with the X axis. At least one releasable rotation lock may be provided to inhibit rotation of the turntable with respect to the base portion. In a preferred arrangement, the turntable and base portion engage one another in a retaining lug and slot arrangement, whereby in the release configuration an elongate portion of the retaining lug is able to slide in the slot to permit lateral movement of the turntable with respect to the base portion. The seat is preferably releasably mounted on the turntable by engagement of one or more support members on the turntable with one or more respective mounting members on an underside of the seat. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using an infant vehicle seat system comprising a base portion mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, a turntable mounted on the base portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and a seat mountable on the turntable, wherein the method comprises rotating the turntable with respect to the base portion and additionally moving the turntable and seat together laterally with respect to the base portion. Preferably, an underside of the turntable has a retaining lug having an elongate portion that can slide within a guide slot in the base portion when in the release configuration. The retaining lug may comprise a lower potion that is wider than the width of the guide slot, to prevent the turntable from being lifted out of connection with the guide slot of the base portion. The turntable or seat may comprise a releasable lock, to allow the seat to be removed from the turntable. Preferably the turntable rotates in use about a Z axis that is substantially central to the base. The invention also includes an infant vehicle seat base portion and a turntable, for receiving an infant vehicle seat, wherein the base portion is mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, the turntable is mounted on the base portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and the turntable is arranged to support an infant seat, wherein in at least one orientation of the turntable with respect to the base portion the turntable and seat, when mounted thereon, are additionally moveable together laterally with respect to the base portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an infant car seat suitable for affixing to a turntable and base portion according to any statement herein. The invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein, except such a combination of features as are mutually exclusive, or mutually inconsistent. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an infant car seat system according to one embodiment of the present invention in one configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an infant car seat base portion according to the embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the infant car seat base portion of Figure 2 in a second configuration; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the infant car seat base portion of Figures 2 and 3 in a third configuration; Figure 5 is a more detailed perspective view of the infant car seat base portion of Figures 2-4 in the third configuration; Figure 6 is a plan view of the infant car seat base portion of Figures 2-5 in the third configuration; Figure 7 is a perspective partial view of the underside of the turntable according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the turntable of the infant car seat base of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of the turntable of Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the infant car seat system of Figure 1, in the third configuration; and Figure 11 is a sectional perspective view of an infant car seat system of Figure 1 in between the first and second configurations . Turning to Figure 1, an infant car seat system, for use in a vehicle (not shown) according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 100. The seat system comprises an infant car seat 10 and an infant car seat base portion 20. Between the seat 10 and base portion 20 is a turntable 22 onto which the infant car seat 10 is mounted. The turntable 22 itself is rotatably mounted on a lower portion 24 of the base 20 and is rotatable about an upright axis Z with respect to the lower portion of the base. The base 20 also comprises a support foot 26 which extends from beneath a front lower portion 24 of the base and aids in supporting the car seat assembly 100 within the vehicle. The infant car seat assembly 100 can be arranged in multiple configurations according to use. In Figure 1, the car seat assembly 100 is in a first, travel configuration so that an infant in the seat would be facing opposite the direction of forwards travel, indicated by arrow T, in keeping with current safety laws. A longitudinal axis S of the seat is parallel with the direction of forwards travel. A locking mechanism (not shown) is used to ensure that the turntable, and thus the infant car seat mounted upon it, is prevented from rotating with respect to the base portion. Figure 2 shows the car seat base portion 20 in the same configuration as in Figure 1, without the infant car seat 10. Support members 23 are shown on the turntable 22, for fixing the infant car seat 10 to the turntable. Figure 3 shows the base portion 20 in a second, release configuration, with the turntable rotated 90° about the Z axis with respect to the lower portion 24. The intended direction of travel of the vehicle is indicated by Arrow T, for reference. The infant car seat 10 is now perpendicular to the direction of travel. Figure 4 shows the turntable 22 in a third, configuration. Once rotated approximately 90°, an elongate portion of a retaining lug 30 which is on the underside of the turntable 22 becomes aligned with a guide slot 28 extending transversely with respect to the base portion. This alignment allows for the turntable 22 to be slidably moved, laterally, translationally along the guide slot 28. Figures 5 and 6 show the turntable in the third configuration with the position of retaining lug 30 shown by dotted lines. Portions of guide slot 28 are also shown with dotted lines. Retainable lug 30 has a retaining portion which is larger in diameter than any part of the guide slot. This prevents turntable 22 from being lifted out of the guide slot which would be unsafe. Guide slot 28 has a wider portion 29, approximately halfway along the guide slot, i.e. substantially centrally of the base portion 20. When the turntable is positioned such that the retaining lug 30 is aligned with the wider portion 29 of the guide slot 28, as it would be when in the first and second configurations, the wider portion 29 allows for the turntable 22 to be rotated. The slot 28 extends across the base portion allowing the turntable and seat to be slid laterally in either direction, when appropriately oriented, to facilitate access from either side of the vehicle. Figures 7-9 show retainable lug 30 from below. The elongate portion of the retainable lug 30 is the part that engages with the guide slot 28. Due to its elongate geometry, the elongate portion of the retaining lug 30 may only be rotated in guide slot 28 at wider portion 29. Figure 10 shows the infant car seat system 100 in the third configuration. The car seat 10 can be more readily accessed from outside of the vehicle (not shown) when in the third configuration. Figure 11 is a part-sectional view through the infant car seat system 100 wherein turntable 22 is rotated with respect to the lower portion 24 between the first and second configurations. Infant car seat 10 is affixed to turntable 22 using affixing means 23 (previous figures). The retaining lug 30 on the underside of the turntable is between the first and second configurations, and as such is not aligned with longitudinal guide slot 28. Therefore, turntable 22 is not able to be slidably moved along guide slot 28 whilst it is in this orientation. Embodiments of the present invention provide an infant vehicle seat that is of a simple design and is safe and easy to use. Access to the infant seat may be gained from the side of the vehicle by rotating the seat, together with the turntable, and then sliding both laterally, or translationally, along the base. Locks may be provided to prevent inadvertent rotation and inadvertent lifting of the seat from the turntable. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features referred to herein, and / or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

l.An infant seat system for a vehicle, comprising a base portion mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, a turntable mounted on the base portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and a seat mountable on the turntable, wherein in at least one orientation of the turntable with respect to the base portion the turntable and seat are arranged for movement together laterally with respect to the base portion.2 .A system according to Claim 1, wherein the base portion has a base portion axis X and is mountable in the vehicle such that axis X is substantially parallel with a forward direction of travel of the vehicle.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the seat and turntable are preferably rotatable about an upright rotation axis Z that is substantially perpendicular to the base portion axis X.

4. A system according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the seat has a longitudinal seat axis that is arranged substantially parallel with the X axis in a travel configuration.

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the seat andturntable are prevented from lateral movement with respect to the base portion when the seat axis is substantially parallel to the axis X.

6. A system according to any of Claims 2-5, wherein the seat and turntable are permitted to move laterally with respect to the base portion in a release configuration, which release configuration corresponds to a position in which the seat and turntable are rotated about axis Z to form an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees, more preferably between 80 degrees and 100 degrees with the X axis.

7. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one releasable rotation lock is provided to inhibit rotation of the turntable with respect to the base portion.S.A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the turntable and base portion engage one another in a retaining lug and slot arrangement, whereby in the release configuration an elongate portion of the retaining lug is able to slide in the slot to permit lateral movement of the turntable with respect to the base portion.

9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the seat is releasably mounted on the turntable by engagement of one or more support members on the turntable with one or more respective mounting members on an underside of the seat.10.A method according to any of the preceding claims,wherein an underside of the turntable has a retaining lug having an elongate portion that can slide within a guide slot in the base portion.11.A system according to Claim 10, wherein the retaining lug comprises a lower portion that is wider than the width of the guide slot, to prevent the turntable from being lifted out of connection with the guide slot of the base portion.12.A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the turntable or seat comprises a releasable lock, to allow the seat to be removed from the turntable .13.An infant vehicle seat base portion and aturntable,for receiving an infant vehicle seat,wherein the base portion is mountable in a vehicle ina fixed orientation, the turntable is mounted on thebase portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and the turntable is arranged to support an infant seat, wherein in at least one orientation of the turntable with respect to the base portion the turntable and seat, when mounted thereon, are moveabletogether laterally with respect to the base portion.14.A method of using an infant vehicle seat system comprising a base portion mountable in a vehicle in a fixed orientation, a turntable mounted on the base portion for rotation with respect to the base portion, and a seat mountable on the turntable, wherein the method comprises rotating the turntable with respect to the base portion and moving the turntable and seat together laterally with respect to the base portion.

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