AU2015100568C4

AU2015100568C4 - Seat for a passenger vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2015100568C4
Application number: AU2015100568A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Denis Mcconnell
Original assignee: MCCONNELL SEATS AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MCCONNELL SEATS AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-23
Filing date: 2015-04-29
Publication date: 2016-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-10
Also published as: AU2015100568A4; AU2015100568B4

Abstract

\\davies.local\meldfsredirected\tld\Desktop\35224453Specification.doc-28/04/2015 - 12 A seat for a passenger vehicle, including a bench seat; a base section for supporting the bench seat above a floor or ground surface of the vehicle; a back support section extending 5 upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including two individual back support sections separated by a bridging section; two lap sash safety belts for anchoring people to respective individual back support sections of the seat; and a bridging lap sash safety belt for anchoring a person to the bridging section of the seat.

Description

2015100568 02 Aug 2016 - 1 -

SEAT FOR A PASSENGER VEHICLE

Cross-Reference to Related Applications 5 The disclosure of the specification of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2013903661 and International Patent Application No. PCTAU2014/050222, is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field of the Invention 10

The present invention relates to a seat for a passenger vehicle.

Background of the Invention 15 Passenger vehicles, such as busses, typically include two columns of seats separated by a central aisle. Each seat is typically configured to seat two adults, one on the window and the other on the aisle. For example, the seat 10 shown in Figures la and lb is of a type previously manufactured which includes: 20 1. a bench seat 12; 2. an upright back support section 14; and 3. abase section 16.

The base section 16 supports the bench seat 12 above a floor or ground surface 18 of the 25 bus 20. In the example shown, the base section 16 is made up of a frame comprising first and second upright members 22a, 22b separated by a transverse member 24 coupled therebetween. The first and second upright members 22a, 22b are coupled to the floor 18 of the bus 20 by fasteners 26, such as bolts. The base section 16 also includes a fastener 28 for fastening the base section 16 to a wall 30 of the bus 20. 30

The upright back support section 14 includes two individual back support sections 32a, 32b separated by a bridging section 32c. The seat 10 is shaped to comfortably seat two 8043504_1 {GHMatters) P103205AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -2 - adults in respective individual back support sections.

The seat 10 includes two sets of lap sash safety belts 34, one for the window seat and the other for the aisle seat. The lap sash safety belt 34 is used to anchor a passenger to the seat 5 10 in the event of a rapid braking event, such as a collision. A lap sash safety belt 34 typically includes: a. a webbing 36 coupled between a retractor 38 seated in, or attached to, upper section of a first side of an upright back support 32a, 32b and a first anchor point on the 10 base section 16; b. a male connector threaded onto the webbing 36 between the retractor 38 and the anchor point; and c. a female connector 40 fixed to a second anchor point on the base section 16. 15 When seated, the passenger fits the safety belt 34 by grasping the male connector and drawing it over his or her body from the above-mentioned common side towards the female connector 40. The male connector is mated with the female connector 40 and the passenger is secured in position. The above-described lap sash safety belt 34 is known in the art and is not described here in further detail. 20

From time to time, it may be desirable to seat three small people, such as three children, on the seat 10. In order to do so, the seat 10 needs to be modified so as to be able to securely anchor all three children to the seat. As a solution to this problem, the seat can be installed with harness straps 42 in the manner shown in Figure la. The harness straps 42 wrap 25 around the bridging section 32c of the upright back support section 14 of the seat 10. The harness straps may also include a lap belt 44.

The above described arrangement of the harness straps 42 need to be fitted by an adult which can be time consuming and generally inconvenient. Further, the harness straps 42 30 are laid open to anyone positioned on the seat behind. Children have been known pull on 8043504_1 (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -3 - these straps with a view to interfering with the children in front of them. This can cause discomfort to the child strapped into the harness 42 and, moreover, to the driver of the bus 20 who is likely to be alerted to the mischievous behaviour of the passengers with a whole lot of yelling and screaming. 5

It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention 10

The invention provides a seat assembly for a passenger vehicle, the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the seat, including: (a) a bench seat; (b) a base section for supporting the bench seat above a floor or ground surface of the 15 vehicle; (c) a back support section extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including two back support sections separated by a bridging section, the back support sections each having an upper section; (d) two lap sash safety belts for anchoring people to respective back support sections of the seat;(e) a bridging lap sash safety belt 20 for anchoring a person to the bridging section of the seat; and (f) a retractor for each belt seated in the upper sections of the back support sections, the retractor for the bridging lap sash safety belt being mounted in an inner lateral side of one of the upper sections

The invention also provides a seat assembly for a passenger vehicle such as a bus or coach, 25 the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the seat including: (a) a seat back having two lateral outer sections and an intermediate section between the outer sections, the two lateral outer sections each having an upper section; (b) a lap sash safety belt for each of the sections of the seat back for securing a person to respective outer and intermediate sections of the seat; and 30 (c) a retractor for the respective seat belts mounted at a lateral side in the upper sections of the seat back, the retractor for the lap sash belt of the intermediate section 8043504.1 (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -4 - seated in an inner lateral side of one of the upper section.

The invention also provides a seat assembly for a passenger vehicle such as a bus or coach, the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the assembly including: (a) a bench seat; 5 (b) a base adapted to be coupled to a floor or ground surface of the vehicle for supporting the bench seat above the floor or ground surface; (c) a back support extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including two lateral outer sections and an intermediate section therebetween, the two lateral outer sections each having an upper section; 10 (d) a lap sash safety belt for each section for securing a person to the outer and intermediate sections of the seat; and (e) a retractor for each belt mounted at a lateral side of the upper sections of the outer sections, the retractor for the lap sash safety belt for the intermediate section being seated in an inner lateral side of one of the upper sections 15 Disclosed herein is a seat for a passenger vehicle, including: (a) a bench seat; (b) a base section for supporting the bench seat above the floor or ground surface of the vehicle; (c) a back support section extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including 20 two individual back support sections separated by a bridging section; (d) two lap sash safety belts for anchoring people to respective individual back support sections of the seat; and (e) a bridging lap sash safety belt for anchoring a person to the bridging section of the seat. 25

Preferably, the lap sash safety belts for the individual back support sections each include: (a) a webbing coupled between a retractor seated in upper section of a first side of one of said individual back support sections and a first anchor point on the base section located proximal to said first side of the individual back support section; 30 (b) a first connector threaded onto the webbing between the retractor and the first anchor point; and 6043504J (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -5 - (c) a second connector coupled to a second anchor point on the base section located proximal to a second opposite side of said one of said individual back support sections, wherein a person is anchored to the seat when the webbing is drawn across a front side of his or her body, over said one of said individual back support 5 sections, so that the first connector is coupled to the second connector.

Preferably, wherein the bridging lap sash safety belt for the bridging section includes: (a) a webbing coupled between a retractor seated in upper section of an inner side of one of said individual back support sections and a first anchor point on the base section 10 located proximal to said inner side of the individual back support section; (b) a first connector threaded onto the webbing between the retractor and the first anchor point; and (c) a second connector coupled to a second anchor point on the base section located proximal to an inner side of the other of said individual back support sections, 15 wherein a person is anchored to the seat when the webbing is drawn across a front side of his or her body so that the first connector is pulled across the bridging section and coupled to the second connector.

Disclosed herein is a passenger vehicle including a plurality of the above described seats. 20

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of nonlimiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 25

Figure la is a front view of a prior art seat;

Figure lb is a side view of the seat shown in Figure la;

Figure 2a is a front view of a seat for a passenger vehicle;

Figures 2b and 2c are right and left side views of the right seat shown in Figure 2a; 30 Figure 3a is a top view of a safety belt for the seat shown in Figure 2a;

Figure 3b is a side view of a safety belt shown in Figure 3a; 8043504_1 (GHMatters) P103205AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -6-

Figure 4a is a front view of the seat for a passenger vehicle shown in Figure 2a with an understrap fitted;

Figure 4b is a top view of a safety belt with an understrap for the seat shown in Figure 4a; and 5 Figure 4c is a side view of a safety belt shown in Figure 4b.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The seat 50 shown in Figures 2a to 2c is used in a passenger vehicle 52, such as a bus, a 10 tram, a boat, an airplane, or any other passenger vehicle. The seat 50 includes a bench seat 54; a base section 56 for supporting the bench seat 54 above a floor or ground surface 58 of the vehicle 52; and a back support section 60 extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat 54. The back support section 60 includes two individual back support sections 62a, 62b separated by a bridging section 62c. The seat 50 further includes two lap sash 15 safety belts 64a, 64b for anchoring two people (not shown) to respective individual back support sections 62a, 62b of the seat 50 and a bridging lap sash safety belt 64c for anchoring a person to the bridging section 62c of the seat 50.

As particularly shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the lap sash safety belts 64a, 64b for the 20 individual back support sections 62a, 62b of the seat each include: (a) a webbing 66 coupled between a retractor 68 seated in upper section 70 of a first side 72 of one of the individual back support sections 62a, 62c and a first anchor point 74 on the base section 56 located proximal to the first side 72 of the 25 individual back support section 62a, 62b; (b) a first connector 76 threaded onto the webbing 66 between the retractor 68 and the first anchor point 74; and (c) a second connector 78 coupled to a second anchor point 80 on the base section 56 located proximal to a second opposite side 82 of the individual back 30 support section 62a, 62b. 8043504_1 (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -ΊΑ person is anchored to the seat 50 with one of the safety belts 64a, 64b when the webbing 66 is drawn across a front side of his or her body, over the individual back support section 62a, 62b, so that the first connector 76 is coupled to the second connector 78. 5 The bridging lap sash safety belt 64c for the bridging section 62c includes: (a) a webbing 66 coupled between a retractor 68 seated in upper section 70 of an inner side 84 of one of the individual back support sections 62a, 62b and a first anchor point 74 on the base section 56 located proximal to said inner side 84 of the 10 individual back support section 62a, 62b; (b) a first connector 76 threaded onto the webbing 66 between the retractor 68 and the first anchor point 74; and (c) a second connector 78 coupled to a second anchor point 80 on the base section 56 located proximal to an inner side 86 of the other of the individual back 15 support sections 62a, 62b. A person is anchored to the seat 50 with the safety belt 64c when the webbing 66 is drawn across a front side of his or her body so that the first connector 76 is pulled across the bridging section 62c and coupled to the second connector 78. 20

As particularly shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the first connector 76 preferably includes a male tongue threaded onto the webbing 66 and the second connector 78 preferably includes a female connector shaped to at least partially receive, and connect thereto, the male tongue of the first connector 76. However, any other suitable configuration of 25 connectors could be used.

As shown, the safety belts 64a, 64b, 64c include a connector plate 88 for coupling the webbing 66 to respective first anchor points 74. However, the safety belts 64a, 64b, 64c could alternatively include any other suitable way of coupling the webbing 66 to the 30 anchor point 74. 8043504J (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -8-

As shown in Figure 4a, the seat 50 preferably includes an understrap 90 coupled to the lap sash safety belt 64c that extends across the bridging section 62c. As particularly shown in Figures 4b and 4c, the understrap 88 includes: 5 (a) a webbing 92 coupled between the first anchor point of 74 of the safety belt 64c and a third anchor point 94 on the base section 16 located between the first anchor point 74 and the second anchor point 78 of the base section 16; and (b) a comfort adjustor 96 threaded on to the webbing 92 of the understrap 90 and also threaded onto the webbing 66 of the safety belt 64c between the first 10 connector 76 and the retractor 68.

The webbing 92 is coupled to the third anchor point 94 by way of a coupling plate 98. However, it may be coupled to the third anchor point by any other suitable means. 15 The comfort adjustor 96 is adapted to slide along the webbing 66 of the safety belt 64c and the webbing 92 of the understrap 90 to adjust the position of the understrap 90 to best suit the size and shape of the person sitting in the bridging section 62c. A width of a bottom section of the bridging section is 240mm. That is, the distance 20 between the two second connectors 78. A width of a bottom section of each one of the individual back support sections is 380mm

The base section 56 includes first and second upright members 100a, 100b separated by a transverse member 100c coupled therebetween. This is a typical configuration. 25 Alternatively, the base section 56 includes any other suitable means for supporting the bench seat over the floor or ground surface 58 of the vehicle 52 can be used. The first and second upright members 100a, 100b are adapted to be coupled to the floor or ground surface 58 of the vehicle 52 by fasteners 102. Further, the base section 56 is adapted to be coupled to a wall section 104 of the vehicle 52 by a fastener 106. 30 8043504_1 {GHMatters) P103205.AU.1 2015100568 02 Aug 2016 -9-

The vehicle 52 is preferably bus for transporting more than 8 people. However, the seats are suitable for use in any other passenger vehicle such as an airplane, or a boat, etc.

The bridging section 62c is preferably suitable to seat a child up to 12 years old who 5 weighs less than 42 kg.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 10 Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 15 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 8043504_1 (GHMatters) P103205.AU.1

Claims

Claims Defining the Invention

1. A seat assembly for a passenger vehicle, the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the seat including: (a) a bench seat; (b) a base section for supporting the bench seat above a floor or ground surface of the vehicle; (c) a back support section extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including two back support sections separated by a bridging section, the back support sections each having an upper section; (d) two lap sash safety belts for anchoring people to respective back support sections of the seat; (e) a bridging lap sash safety belt for anchoring a person to the bridging section of the seat; and (f) a retractor for each belt seated in the upper sections of the back support sections, the retractor for the bridging lap sash safety belt being mounted in an inner lateral side of one of the upper sections.
2. A seat assembly for a passenger vehicle such as a bus or coach, the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the seat including: (a) a seat back having two lateral outer sections and an intermediate section between the outer sections, the two lateral outer sections each having an upper section; (b) a lap sash safety belt for each of the sections of the seat back for securing a person to respective outer and intermediate sections of the seat; and (c) a retractor for the respective seat belts mounted at a lateral side in the upper sections of the seat back, the retractor for the lap sash belt of the intermediate section seated in an inner lateral side of one of the upper sections.
3. A seat assembly for a passenger vehicle such as a bus or coach, the seat having a maximum capacity of 2 adults or 3 children, the assembly including: (a) a bench seat; (b) a base adapted to be coupled to a floor or ground surface of the vehicle for supporting the bench seat above the floor or ground surface; (c) a back support extending upwardly with respect to the bench seat, including two lateral outer sections and an intermediate section therebetween, the two lateral outer sections each having an upper section; (d) a lap sash safety belt for each section for securing a person to the respective outer and intermediate sections of the seat; and (e) a retractor for each belt mounted at a lateral side of the upper sections of the outer sections, the retractor for the lap sash safety belt for the intermediate section being seated in an inner lateral side of one of the upper sections.
4. A seat assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bridging sections/intermediate section is lower than the upper sections.
5. A seat or seat assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the two back support sections/outer sections of the back support/seat back are substantially 380mm wide and the bridging section/intermediate section is substantially 240mm wide.