CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM INCLUDING TENSION SENSOR AND STATUS INDICATOR
First Claim
1. A child restraint system comprising:
- a child seat including a base and a seat portion mounted on the base; and
at least one tension sensor and status indicator operably connected for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure the child seat onto a seat of a vehicle, the tension sensor including at least one front load sensor and at least one rear location sensor that are each depressed a predetermined amount when the vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A child restraint system is provided for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure a child seat onto a seat of a vehicle and whether a child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain a child within the child seat. The child restraint system includes a vehicle seat belt tension sensor and status indicator and a child seat harness tension sensor and status indicator. The child restraint system further includes an occupant sensor for determining whether a child is seated within the child seat. If the occupant sensor determines that a child is seated within the child seat, the vehicle seat belt status indicator is disabled, thereby preventing the weight of the child from interfering with the proper installation of the child seat onto the seat of the vehicle by applying a downward force to the vehicle seat belt tension sensor.
55 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A child restraint system comprising:
-
a child seat including a base and a seat portion mounted on the base; and at least one tension sensor and status indicator operably connected for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure the child seat onto a seat of a vehicle, the tension sensor including at least one front load sensor and at least one rear location sensor that are each depressed a predetermined amount when the vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A child restraint system comprising:
-
a child seat including a base and a seat portion mounted on the base; and at least one tension sensor and status indicator operably connected for detecting and indicating whether a child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain a child within the child seat, the tension sensor including a hinged sensor plate that rotates against a biasing force a predetermined amount when the child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A child restraint system comprising:
-
a vehicle seat belt tension sensor and status indicator for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure a child seat within a vehicle, a child seat harness tension sensor and status indicator for detecting and indicating whether a child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain a child within the child seat; and an occupant sensor for determining whether a child is seated within the child seat and for disabling the vehicle seat belt status indicator when a child is seated within the child seat. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for detecting and indicating whether a vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure a child seat onto a seat of a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
providing a vehicle seat belt tension sensor and status indicator on the child seat, the vehicle seat belt tension sensor including at least one front load sensor and a rear location sensor that are each depressed a predetermined amount when the vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned, the vehicle seat belt status indicator including a feature visibly disposed on the child seat for indicating the status of the vehicle seat belt tension sensor; positioning the child seat on the seat of the vehicle with the vehicle seat belt engaging the child seat; and tensioning the vehicle seat belt until the feature indicates that the vehicle seat belt is sufficiently tensioned to secure the child seat onto the seat of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A method for detecting and indicating whether a child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain a child within a child seat, the method comprising:
-
providing a child seat harness tension sensor and status indicator on the child seat, the child seat harness tension sensor including a hinged sensor plate that is rotated a predetermined amount when the child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned, the child seat harness status indicator including a feature visibly disposed on the child seat for indicating the status of the child seat harness tension sensor; positioning the child within the child seat with the child seat harness engaging the child; and tensioning the child seat harness until the feature indicates that the child seat harness is sufficiently tensioned to restrain the child within the child seat.
-
Specification