CN-122029077-A - Load limiter for rotatable seat and method of providing the same

Abstract

Examples include an apparatus having a base platform, a seat platform, and a swivel joint. The base platform is configured for attachment to an occupant seat of a motor vehicle. The base platform has a first base retainer component and a second base retainer component. The seat platform has a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat platform has a first seat holder complement and a second seat holder complement. The swivel joint couples the base platform and the seat platform and allows relative movement of the base platform and the seat platform about the axis of rotation and constrains movement on other axes. The first seat holder complement is aligned with the first base holder member at a first position of the base platform relative to the seat platform. The second seat holder complement is aligned with the second base holder member at a second position of the base platform relative to the seat platform (a second position different from the first position).

Inventors

• S. G. Marcus
• P. A. Prizello

Assignees

• 赛贝克斯有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241015

Priority Date

20231016

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: A base platform configured for attachment to an occupant seat of a motor vehicle, the base platform having a first base retainer component and a second base retainer component; A seat platform having a seat portion and a backrest portion, the seat platform having a first seat holder complement and a second seat holder complement; A swivel joint coupled to the base platform and to the seat portion, the swivel joint configured to allow relative movement of the base platform and the seat platform about an axis of rotation and to constrain movement on other axes; Wherein the first seat holder complement is aligned with the first base holder member in a first position of the base platform relative to the seat platform, and Wherein, at a second position of the base platform relative to the seat platform, the second position being different from the first position, the second seat holder complement is aligned with the second base holder member.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform comprises a third base retainer component and the seat platform comprises a third seat retainer complement, and wherein the third base retainer component is aligned with the third seat retainer complement when in the first position.
3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein in the first position, the third seat holder complement is interlocked with a third base holder member.
4. 4. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the third base retainer component and third seat retainer complement comprises an overhanging arm or flange.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the third base retainer component and the third seat retainer complement is configured to articulate.
6. 6. The device of claim 2, wherein the third seat holder complement is coupled to the seat portion.
7. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein in the first position the first seat holder complement is interlocked with the first base holder member, or wherein in the second position the second seat holder complement is interlocked with the second base holder member.
8. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first base holder component, the second base holder component, the first seat holder complement, and the second seat holder complement comprises an overhanging arm or flange.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first base holder component, the second base holder component, the first seat holder complement, and the second seat holder complement is configured to hinge.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first position and the second position differ by approximately 180 degrees.
11. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first seat holder complement is coupled to the backrest portion, or wherein the second seat holder complement is coupled to the seat portion.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform comprises a lower portion and an upper portion.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base platform comprises at least one anchor configured to couple with the motor vehicle.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the swivel joint is coupled to the lower portion.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first base retainer component is coupled to the upper portion, or wherein the second base retainer component is coupled proximate to a junction of the upper portion and the lower portion.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint comprises a fastener that prevents tool-less separation of one or both of the base platform and the seat platform.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at a third position of the base platform relative to the seat platform, the third position being different from the first position and different from the second position, the swivel joint is configured for axial movement of the base platform relative to the seat platform.
18. 18. A method, the method comprising: Providing a swivel joint coupled to a base platform, the base platform configured for mating with a vehicle seat, and the base platform having a first base retainer component and a second base retainer component; Providing a seat platform configured for coupling with the swivel joint, the seat platform having a first seat holder complement and a second seat holder complement, the swivel joint configured to allow relative movement of the base platform and the seat platform about an axis of rotation and to constrain movement on other axes; aligning the first seat holder complement and the first base holder member when the base platform and the seat platform are in a first relative position, and The second seat holder complement and the second seat holder component are aligned when the base platform and the seat platform are in a second relative position, the second relative position being different from the first relative position.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a seat platform comprises integrally forming at least one of the first seat holder complement and the second seat holder complement, or wherein providing a base platform comprises integrally forming at least one of the first base holder component and the second base holder component.
20. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a seat platform includes forming a third seat holder complement.

Description

Load limiter for rotatable seat and method of providing the same Priority The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/487,721 filed on 10/16 of 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field This document relates generally to, but is not limited to, child safety seats for use with motor vehicles. Background Child safety seats provide improved safety to occupants in the event of a vehicle collision. To maximize safety benefits, the seat must be properly positioned and anchored to the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the occupant must be properly fitted to the seat and oriented in an appropriate manner based on age, weight, and other factors. To accommodate occupants of various ages and sizes, some manufacturers provide a convertible seat that can be attached to the vehicle in either a forward or rearward mode. Some manufacturers offer seats configured for swivel. See, for example, US 10,457,168 for a child safety seat, US 10,322,651 for a child safety seat, IP 4601849 B2 for a child seat, US 6,746,080 for a child car seat, US 11,427,114 for a booster seat to base attachment mechanism, US 7,614,692 for a child car seat swiveled between a forward facing position and a door facing position, for automatic return to the forward facing position, US 6,431,647 for a swiveled child car seat, US 7,357,451 for a swivelable car seat, US 2008/0054694 for a child restraint having a swiveled juvenile seat and a swivel status indicator, US 4,936,629 for a swiveled infant car seat, and US 11,420,540 for a child safety seat and associated spin lock mechanism. Despite these solutions, product cost and product complexity limit the market for child safety seats with swivel members. Disclosure of Invention The inventors have recognized that the problems to be solved may include, among other things, reduced product cost and simplified design. Examples of the present subject matter address these issues by providing a rotatable seat with a latch configuration that simplifies rotation, ensures reliable operation, and provides a secure connection between an occupant and a motor vehicle. One example includes a base platform configured for attachment to a motor vehicle. The seat platform is coupled to the base platform by a structure including a swivel joint and a plurality of holder pairs. The retainer pair may refer to a retainer component and a corresponding retainer complement. For example, the retainer component may comprise a hook and the retainer complement may comprise a similarly shaped hook or flange. In a first position (such as with the occupant facing forward), the first set of retainer pairs are engaged and the second set of retainer pairs are disengaged, and in a second position (such as with the occupant facing rearward), the first set of retainer pairs are disengaged and the second set of retainer pairs are engaged. One example includes an apparatus having a base platform, a seat platform, and a swivel joint. The base platform is configured for attachment to an occupant seat of a motor vehicle. The base platform has a first base retainer component and a second base retainer component. The seat platform has a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat platform has a first seat holder complement and a second seat holder complement. The swivel joint couples the base platform and the seat portion and allows relative movement of the base platform and the seat platform about the axis of rotation and movement constrained on other axes. The first seat holder complement is aligned with the first base holder member at a first position of the base platform relative to the seat platform. In a second position of the base platform relative to the seat platform (the second position being different from the first position), the second seat holder complement is aligned with the second base holder member. The holder pair may include a holder component and a corresponding holder complement configured to allow for conventional engagement or conventional disengagement. The user may be able to maneuver the child seat without the aid of a tool to achieve either conventional engagement or conventional disengagement. According to some examples, the retainer components and corresponding retainer complements may be similar, indistinguishable, or mirrored. For example, the retainer component may include a first hook and the retainer complement may include a second hook configured to engage with the first hook. According to some examples, the retainer component and the corresponding retainer complement may be different. For example, the retainer component may comprise a bolt and the retainer complement may comprise a mating channel configured to receive a head of the bolt. In various examples, one of the retainer component and the retainer complement may include a hook, a wedge, a bolt, a flange, a stud, a rail, a track, a channel, or a latch. In var