HARNESS TENSION SENSOR AND CRASH OCCURRENCE SENSOR

• US 20070228802A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Britax Child Safety Incorporated (Cc 1 (2011) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Britax Child Safety Incorporated (Cc 1 (2011) Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakhla, Said
• Application Number:
  US11/695,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228802A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/469
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4841 for sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A child safety device for a vehicle including a seat including a shell, a harness including at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat, and a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell indicating a tension status of the harness.

Claims

1. A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a seat comprising a shell;

(b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat; and

(c) a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness is sufficiently tensioned.

2. A child safety device according to claim 1 wherein the harness comprises shoulder straps and a crotch strap.

3. A child safety device according to claim 1 wherein the device on the strap comprises a strap buckle or slide.

4. A child safety device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is positioned on a shell bottom.

5. A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a seat comprising a shell;

(b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat; and

(c) a sensor including crushable members between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness has been severely tensioned.

6. A child safety device according to claim 5 wherein the crushable members are calibrated to crush at 500-700 pounds of load.

7. A child safety device according to claim 5 wherein the crushable members comprise ribs or thin walls.

8. A child safety device according to claim 5 wherein the sensor is a one use, one way type.

9. A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a seat comprising a shell;

(b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat;

(c) a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness is sufficiently tensioned; and

(d) a sensor including crushable members between the device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness has been severely tensioned.

10. A child safety device according to claim 9 wherein both sensors are positioned under the seat shell.