JP7572910B2 - Child seats and bicycles equipped with child seats - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a child seat and a bicycle with a child seat.

Conventionally, a child seat has been known which includes a seat portion, a backrest portion extending upward from the rear end of the seat portion, and a pair of left and right foot portions extending downward from the front end of the seat portion.
As an example of this type of child seat, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, the foot section has a step surface on which a seated child places their feet, and is removably attached to the seat section via bolts and nuts, and the vertical position of the step surface can be adjusted by changing the vertical position of the foot section relative to the seat section as the child grows.

JP 2007-125992 A

However, with the conventional child car seat, adjusting the vertical position of the step surface requires loosening and tightening bolts and nuts, making it difficult to adjust the vertical position of the step surface.

This invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a child seat and a bicycle with a child seat that allows the vertical position of the step surface to be easily adjusted.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, the child seat of the present invention comprises a seat portion, a backrest portion extending upward from the rear end of the seat portion, a pair of left and right foot portions extending downward from the front end of the seat portion, and a step base removably attached to the foot portions, wherein a first locking piece is formed on the step base, and a first locking hole is formed on the foot portions into which the first locking piece is removably inserted, and when the first locking piece moves in a first direction among intersecting directions that intersect with the opening direction in which the first locking hole opens, the first locking piece is movable in the opening direction in a direction to move away from the first locking hole, and a restricting member that restricts the movement of the first locking piece toward the first direction is removably inserted into the first locking hole.
The child seat-fitted bicycle of the present invention has the child seat of the present invention fixed to the bicycle.

According to this invention, a step stool is provided which is removably attached to the foot section, so that the vertical position of the step surface on which the seated child places his/her feet can be adjusted by attaching and detaching the step stool to the foot section in accordance with the child's growth.
When the step is removed from the foot, the restricting member is removed from the first locking hole, and the first locking piece is moved in the first direction and then removed from the first locking hole.
When attaching the step to the foot, the first locking piece is inserted into the first locking hole and a restricting member is inserted into the first locking hole to restrict movement of the first locking piece in the first direction.
As described above, when adjusting the vertical position of the step surface on which a seated child places his/her feet, this adjustment can be easily performed without the need to use tools for manipulating bolts and nuts, for example.

The step platform may be provided on the front side of the foot, the first locking piece may protrude from the back side of the foot, and the first locking piece may have a first locking protrusion that protrudes in the opposite direction to the first direction and engages with the back side of the foot.

In this case, the first locking piece is formed with a first locking protrusion that protrudes toward the opposite side of the first direction and engages with the underside of the foot, so that the first locking piece can be reliably prevented from coming off the first locking hole, and when the first locking piece is moved in the first direction, the first locking protrusion faces the first locking hole in the opening direction, so that the first locking piece can be easily released from the first locking hole.

The step platform may be provided with a second locking piece spaced apart from the first locking piece in a second direction intersecting the first direction among the intersecting directions, and the foot may be formed with a second locking hole into which the second locking piece is releasably inserted, and the second locking piece may be formed with a second locking protrusion that protrudes toward the opposite side of the first locking piece along the second direction and engages with the underside of the foot.

In this case, since the step is provided with not only the first locking piece but also the second locking piece, and the foot is formed with not only the first locking hole but also the second locking hole, the step can be stably attached to the foot.
When removing the step from the foot, the restricting member is disengaged from the first locking hole, the first locking piece is moved in a first direction, and while the second locking projection is kept engaged with the underside of the foot, the step is rotated around the second locking projection, and after the first locking piece is disengaged from the first locking hole, the second locking piece is disengaged from the second locking hole.
When attaching the step to the foot, the step is tilted relative to the surface of the foot and, with the second locking piece inserted into the second locking hole, the step is rotated around the second locking protrusion so that the second locking protrusion engages with the underside of the foot and the first locking piece approaches toward the surface of the foot. After the first locking piece is inserted into the first locking hole, a regulating member is inserted into the first locking hole to regulate the movement of the first locking piece in the first direction.
As described above, since the second locking protrusion is formed on the second locking piece, when attaching or detaching the step to or from the foot, the step can be rotated around the second locking protrusion with the second locking protrusion engaged with the underside of the foot, making this attachment and detachment easy.

The first locking piece may have a chamfered portion formed on the end face of the tip portion in the opening direction opposite the second locking piece along the second direction, the chamfered portion being inclined with respect to the opening direction.

In this case, the first locking piece has a chamfered portion that is inclined with respect to the opening direction on the end face of the tip portion in the opening direction opposite the second locking piece along the second direction, so that when attaching the step to the foot, the first locking piece can be easily inserted into the first locking hole.

The restricting member may be formed with a support piece that abuts against the end face of the first engaging piece opposite the second engaging piece along the second direction.

In this case, the regulating member is formed with a support piece that abuts against the end face of the first locking piece opposite the second locking piece along the second direction. Therefore, when the regulating member is inserted into the first locking hole in the process of attaching the step to the foot, the support piece pushes the first locking piece towards the second locking piece along the second direction, making it easy to determine the relative positions of the step and the foot in the second direction.

The restricting member may be provided so as to be movable in the direction of the opening and not detachable from the step platform.

In this case, the restricting member is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the opening and cannot be detached from the step platform. This makes it possible to prevent the restricting member from being separated from the step platform when the restricting member is detached from the first locking hole, and makes it easy to adjust the vertical position of the step surface on which a seated child places their feet.

This invention makes it easy to adjust the vertical position of the step surface.

1 is a schematic diagram of a bicycle with a child seat shown as one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the foot portion of FIG. 1 . 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2.

Hereinafter, a child seat 1 and a bicycle 10 with a child seat according to one embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.
The child seat 1 comprises a seat portion 11, a backrest portion 12 extending upward from the rear end of the seat portion 11, a pair of left and right foot portions 13 extending downward from the front end of the seat portion 11, and a step base 14 removably attached to the foot portions 13. The child seat 1 is fixed to a luggage rack 20 of the bicycle to form a child seat-fitted bicycle 10.
The child seat 1 may be fixed to, for example, the handlebars of a bicycle.

A handle bar 15 is provided at the front of the seat 11, extending in the left-right direction and to be gripped by a child seated in the child seat 1. The handle bar 15 is provided over the entire left-right length of the front of the seat 11. The seat 11 is fixed to a cargo bed 20 via fastening members (not shown), thereby fixing the child seat 1 to the cargo bed 20.
The foot portion 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and includes a cylindrical plate 22 and a step plate 23 .

The step plate 23 is formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing up and down. The surface of the step plate 23 facing up serves as a first step surface 23a on which a seated child places his/her feet.
The cylindrical plate 22 is formed in a half-cylinder shape that extends in the vertical direction and is open toward the front. The cylindrical plate 22 extends downward from the front end of the seat portion 11 and is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the first step surface 23a. The front end of the cylindrical plate 22 is located rearward of the front end of the first step surface 23a.

The step platform 14 is attached to a step plate 23 .
The step platform 14 may be attached to the cylindrical plate 22 so as to cover the first step surface 23a. In this case, the step plate 23 does not need to be provided.
The step platform 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top and includes a top wall 24 and a peripheral wall 25 .

As shown in FIG. 3, a rear end 25a of the lower opening edge of the peripheral wall 25 of the step 14 extends upward as it moves rearward.
A top wall 24 of the step stool 14 faces in the vertical direction to a first step surface 23a of the foot portion 13. An upwardly facing surface of the top wall 24 of the step stool 14 serves as a second step surface 24a on which a seated child places his/her feet.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, a first locking piece 26 is formed on the step platform 14. The first locking piece 26 protrudes downward from the top wall 24 side of the step platform 14. The first locking piece 26 is formed in a plate shape with the front and back surfaces facing the left and right directions. The first locking piece 26 is formed so that it can elastically deform in the left and right direction. The first locking piece 26 may be provided so that it can slide in the left and right direction.

The foot 13 is formed with a first locking hole 27 into which the first locking piece 26 is releasably inserted. The first locking hole 27 penetrates the step plate 23 in the vertical direction and opens in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front and rear end faces of the inner circumferential surface of the first locking hole 27 extend forward as they move upward, and both left and right end faces extend straight in the vertical direction. The opening direction of the first locking hole 27 may be a direction that intersects with the vertical direction. The first locking hole 27 may be provided in the tube plate 22.

The lower end (tip) of the first locking piece 26 protrudes downward from the rear surface of the step plate 23 that faces downward. A chamfered portion 26a that is inclined in the up-down direction is formed on the front end surface of the lower end of the first locking piece 26. The chamfered portion 26a extends forward as it extends upward. The entire chamfered portion 26a is located below the first locking hole 27.
It is not necessary to form the chamfered portion 26 a on the first locking piece 26 .

The portion of the first locking piece 26 that is located above the first step surface 23a protrudes rearward compared to the portion that is located below the first step surface 23a. The rear end 26b of the portion of the first locking piece 26 that is located above the first step surface 23a abuts against the first step surface 23a in the vertical direction.

When the first locking piece 26 moves in a first direction X among intersecting directions intersecting the up-down direction, the first locking piece 26 is movable in the up-down direction in a direction to disengage from the first locking hole 27 .
In the illustrated example, two first locking pieces 26 and two first locking holes 27 are provided at a distance in the left-right direction. The first direction X is the side of each first locking piece 26 that is closer to the other first locking piece 26 in the left-right direction.

Here, the first locking piece 26 is formed with a first locking protrusion 28 that protrudes toward the opposite side in the first direction X and engages with the rear surface of the step plate 23. The first locking piece 26 is moved in the first direction X to cause the first locking protrusion 28 to enter the first locking hole 27 facing each other in the vertical direction, whereby the first locking piece 26 is released upward from the first locking hole 27.
It is also possible not to form the first locking projection 28 on the first locking piece 26, and instead have the first locking piece 26 simply come into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first locking hole 27 on the side opposite to the first direction X, for example.

The step platform 14 is provided with a second locking piece 31 spaced apart from the first locking piece 26 in a second direction Y that intersects with the first direction X among the intersecting directions. It is noted that the second locking piece 31 does not necessarily have to be provided on the step platform 14.
In the illustrated example, the second locking piece 31 protrudes downward from the downward-facing back surface of the top wall 24 of the step 14. The second locking piece 31 is formed in a plate shape with the front and back surfaces facing in the left-right direction.

The foot 13 is formed with a second locking hole 32 into which the second locking piece 31 is releasably inserted. The second locking hole 32 penetrates the step plate 23 in the vertical direction and opens in the vertical direction. The inner peripheral surface of the second locking hole 32 extends straight in the vertical direction around the entire circumference. Note that the second locking hole 32 does not have to be formed in the foot 13.

In the illustrated example, two second locking holes 32 and two second locking pieces 31 are provided with a gap between them in the left-right direction. The second locking holes 32 and the second locking pieces 31 are spaced rearward from the first locking holes 27 and the first locking pieces 26. In other words, the second direction Y is rearward. Note that the second direction Y is not limited to rearward and may be changed as appropriate as long as it is a direction that intersects with the first direction X among the intersecting directions. The left-right positions of a pair of second locking holes 32 and second locking pieces 31 and a pair of first locking holes 27 and first locking pieces 26 are the same.

The second locking piece 31 protrudes downward from the back surface of the step plate 23. The front end of the second locking piece 31 protruding downward from the back surface of the step plate 23 is formed into a curved surface protruding forward. The second locking piece 31 is spaced rearward from the front end surface of the inner circumferential surface of the second locking hole 32.
The second locking piece 31 is formed with a second locking projection 33 that protrudes rearward and engages with the underside of the step plate 23. The second locking projection 33 is provided at the lower end of the second locking piece 31. An upwardly facing flat surface is formed at the upper end of the second locking projection 33. The upper end of the second locking projection 33 abuts against or is close to the underside of the step plate 23.

As shown in FIG. 4 , a restricting member 35 that restricts the movement of the first locking piece 26 in the first direction X is removably inserted into the first locking hole 27 .
The restricting member 35 includes a restricting plate 36 formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing the left and right directions. The restricting plate 36 is removably inserted into the first locking hole 27. The restricting plate 36 covers the entire surface of the first locking piece 26 facing the first direction X. A chamfered portion 36a is formed on the surface of the lower end of the restricting plate 36 facing the first direction X. The chamfered portion 36a extends in the first direction X as it goes upward.

The regulating member 35 includes two regulating plates 36 spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a connecting plate 38 connecting the upper ends of the two regulating plates 36. The connecting plate 38 is formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing in the up-down direction.
Here, a countersunk hole 24c that accommodates a connecting plate 38 is formed in the second step surface 24a of the step platform 14. The surface of the connecting plate 38 is located at the same or lower position in the up-down direction relative to the second step surface 24a. A through hole 24b is formed in the bottom surface of the countersunk hole 24c, into which the restricting plate 36 is inserted so as to be movable up and down.

The restricting plate 36 has two climbing projections 36b that protrude in the first direction X and are spaced apart in the vertical direction. The climbing projections 36b are formed so that they can climb over the opening periphery of the through hole 24b in the top wall 24 of the step platform 14 in the vertical direction.

Of the two climbing over projections 36b, the upper one abuts against the opening periphery of the through hole 24b on the back surface of the top wall 24. This makes it possible to suppress rattling of the regulating member 35 relative to the step platform 14.
Of the two overriding projections 36b, the lower one abuts against the opening peripheral portion of the through hole 24b in the surface of the top wall 24 when the restricting member 35 is pulled up, thereby preventing the restricting member 35 from falling under its own weight when the restricting member 35 is released. When the overriding projection 36b abuts against the opening peripheral portion of the through hole 24b in the surface of the top wall 24, the restricting plate 36 is released upward from the first locking hole 27, and the movement of the first locking piece 26 in the first direction X is permitted.

Each of the overcoming protrusions 36b is formed in a plate shape bent so that its front and back surfaces face the left-right direction and its central portion in the up-down direction protrudes in the first direction X. Each of the overcoming protrusions 36b extends in the first direction X as it approaches the central portion along the up-down direction.
Here, the regulating plate 36 has two window holes 36d that penetrate in the left-right direction, spaced apart in the up-down direction, and the lower end of the upper one of the two jumping protrusions 36b is connected to the lower end of the inner surface of the upper window hole 36d, and the upper end of the lower one of the two jumping protrusions 36b is connected to the upper end of the inner surface of the lower window hole 36d.

A stopper protrusion 36c that protrudes in the first direction X is formed on the regulating plate 36 at a portion located below the overhanging protrusion 36b. The amount that the stopper protrusion 36c protrudes in the first direction X from the regulating plate 36 is equal to the amount of protrusion of the overhanging protrusion 36b. An upwardly facing flat surface is formed on the upper end of the stopper protrusion 36c. The upper end of the stopper protrusion 36c abuts against the opening periphery of the through hole 24b on the back surface of the top wall 24 of the step platform 14, making it impossible for the regulating member 35 to detach from the step platform 14.

2 and 3, the regulating member 35 is formed with a support piece 37 that abuts against the front end surface of the first locking piece 26. The support piece 37 protrudes from the regulating plate 36 toward the opposite side of the first direction X. The support piece 37 extends downward from the back surface of the connecting plate 38. The lower end of the support piece 37 protrudes downward from the back surface of the step plate 23. The support piece 37 abuts against the front end surface of the first locking piece 26 over its entire length in the vertical direction. The rear surface of the support piece 37 extends straight in the vertical direction over its entire area. A chamfered portion 37a is formed at the lower end of the front surface of the support piece 37, which extends backward as it goes downward. The entire chamfered portion 37a is located below the first locking hole 27. The chamfered portion 37a does not have to be formed on the support piece 37.

Next, we will explain the function of the child seat 1.

When removing the step platform 14 from the foot 13, the connecting plate 38 is raised to remove the restricting plate 36 from the first locking hole 27, and then the lower end of the first locking piece 26 is pressed in the first direction X to make the first locking projection 28 face the first locking hole 27 in the vertical direction. In this state, while the second locking projection 33 remains engaged with the back surface of the step plate 23, the step platform 14 is rotated upward around the second locking projection 33, and after the first locking piece 26 is removed from the first locking hole 27, the second locking piece 31 is removed from the second locking hole 32.

When attaching the step 14 to the foot 13, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 3, the step 14 is tilted relative to the first step surface 23a, and the rear end 25a of the lower opening edge of the peripheral wall 25 is aligned along the first step surface 23a. Then, the rear end of the step 14 is pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical plate 22 of the foot 13 in the fore-and-aft direction while the second locking piece 31 is inserted into the second locking hole 32.
Next, the step platform 14 is rotated downward around the second locking protrusion 33 so that the second locking protrusion 33 engages with the back surface of the step plate 23 and the first locking piece 26 approaches the first step surface 23a, and the first locking piece 26 is inserted into the first locking hole 27.
Then, the connecting plate 38 is pushed down to insert the restricting plate 36 into the first locking hole 27, thereby restricting the movement of the first locking piece 26 in the first direction X. When the restricting plate 36 is inserted into the first locking hole 27, the chamfered portion 37a of the support piece 37 slides on the front end face of the inner circumferential surface of the first locking hole 27, causing the restricting member 35 to push the step 14 rearward.

As described above, the child seat 1 and bicycle 10 with a child seat according to this embodiment are provided with a step stool 14 that is removably attached to the foot portion 13. By attaching and detaching the step stool 14 to the foot portion 13 as the child grows, the step surface on which the seated child places their feet can be selected from either the step stool 14 or the foot portion 13, thereby adjusting the vertical position of the step surface.
When adjusting the vertical position of the step surface on which a seated child places his/her feet, as described above, there is no need to use tools for manipulating bolts and nuts, for example, and therefore this adjustment can be easily performed.

The first locking piece 26 is formed with a first locking protrusion 28 that protrudes toward the opposite side of the first direction X and engages with the back surface of the step plate 23. This reliably prevents the first locking piece 26 from coming off the first locking hole 27, and when the first locking piece 26 is moved in the first direction X, the first locking protrusion 28 faces the first locking hole 27 in the vertical direction, allowing the first locking piece 26 to easily come off from the first locking hole 27.

Since the step 14 is provided with not only the first locking piece 26 but also the second locking piece 31, and the foot 13 is formed with not only the first locking hole 27 but also the second locking hole 32, the step 14 can be stably attached to the foot 13.
Since a second locking protrusion 33 is formed on the second locking piece 31, when attaching or detaching the step platform 14 to or from the foot 13, the step platform 14 can be rotated around the second locking protrusion 33 with the second locking protrusion 33 engaged with the back surface of the step plate 23, making this attachment and detachment easy.

The front end surface of the lower end of the first locking piece 26 is formed with a chamfered portion 26a that is inclined in the vertical direction, so that the first locking piece 26 can be easily inserted into the first locking hole 27 when attaching the step 14 to the foot 13.

The regulating member 35 is formed with a support piece 37 that abuts against the front end surface of the first locking piece 26. Therefore, when the regulating member 35 is inserted into the first locking hole 27 during the process of attaching the step 14 to the foot 13, the support piece 37 pushes the first locking piece 26 rearward, making it easy to determine the relative positions of the step 14 and the foot 13 in the second direction Y.

The restricting member 35 is provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the step platform 14 and cannot be detached from it. This makes it possible to prevent the restricting member 35 from being separated from the step platform 14 when the restricting member 35 is detached from the first locking hole 27, and makes it easy to adjust the vertical position of the step surface on which a seated child places their feet.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the support piece 37 does not have to be formed on the regulating member 35 .
The restriction plate 36 does not necessarily need to have the chamfered portion 36a, the overhanging projection 36b, and the retaining projection 36c.
A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of first engagement holes 27 are formed at different vertical positions in the foot 13, making it possible to adjust the vertical attachment position of the step 14 relative to the foot 13.

In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Child seat 10 Bicycle with child seat 11 Seat 12 Backrest 13 Foot 14 Step 26 First locking piece 26a Chamfered portion 27 First locking hole 28 First locking projection 31 Second locking piece 32 Second locking hole 33 Second locking projection 35 Restricting member 37 Support piece X First direction Y Second direction

Claims (7)

A seat portion,
a backrest portion extending upward from a rear end portion of the seat portion;
A pair of left and right foot portions extending downward from a front end portion of the seat portion;
A step base is removably attached to the foot portion,
The step base is formed with a first locking piece,
The foot portion is formed with a first locking hole into which the first locking piece is releasably inserted,
When the first engaging piece moves in a first direction among intersecting directions intersecting an opening direction in which the first engaging hole is opened, the first engaging piece is movable in the opening direction in a direction in which the first engaging piece is removed from the first engaging hole,
A restricting member that restricts movement of the first engaging piece toward the first direction is removably inserted into the first engaging hole ,
A child seat , in which both the first engaging piece and the restricting member are detachably inserted into the same first engaging hole . The step is provided on a front surface side of the foot, and the first engagement piece protrudes from a rear surface of the foot,
2. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging piece is formed with a first engaging projection that protrudes in a direction opposite to the first direction and engages with a rear surface of the foot portion. The step platform is provided with a second locking piece spaced apart from the first locking piece in a second direction intersecting the first direction among the intersecting directions,
The foot portion is formed with a second locking hole into which the second locking piece is releasably inserted,
3. The child seat according to claim 2, wherein the second engaging piece is formed with a second engaging protrusion that protrudes toward the opposite side of the first engaging piece along the second direction and engages with the underside of the foot portion. The child seat according to claim 3, wherein the first engaging piece has a chamfered portion inclined with respect to the opening direction formed on the end surface of the tip portion in the opening direction opposite the second engaging piece along the second direction. The child seat according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the restricting member is formed with a support piece that abuts against the end face of the first engaging piece on the opposite side of the second engaging piece along the second direction. The child seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the restricting member is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the opening and cannot be separated from the step platform. A bicycle with a child seat, in which the child seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is fixed to the bicycle.

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