Adjustable Bracing Member for Child Safety Seat Harness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strap-type restraining harnesses for seats, particularly in vehicles and child safety seats, lack easy adjustability of bracing points from the occupant-facing side, limiting their effectiveness and comfort across different sizes and types of users.
Innovation Solution
A child safety seat assembly with a bracing member that includes a first portion to engage with straps and a second portion to engage with apertures, allowing for adjustable bracing points that can be secured from the occupant-facing side, using an auxiliary strap and integral flanges for secure positioning, enabling easy height adjustment without requiring access to the rear of the seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional strap-type restraining harnesses use fixed bracing points, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different user sizes and the ease of adjustment are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing point is made adjustable through a slot mechanism that allows the bracing point to move vertically along the seat back. The height adjustment member (such as a rod or strap) can be positioned at different heights by engaging with the slot, enabling the harness to adapt to users of different sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into separate components: the slot in the seat back, the height adjustment member, and the engagement mechanism (such as integral flanges). This segmentation allows for independent optimization of each component and simplifies the overall structure compared to a completely fixed or fully adjustable system.
2Ease of operation
If adjustment means are fixed to the vehicle frame separate from the seat, then the bracing point height can be adjusted, but the adjustability is limited by the size and shape of the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is merged with the seat structure itself. The slot is formed in the seat back, and the height adjustment member integrates with the harness system, eliminating the need for separate adjustment means fixed to the vehicle frame. This merging expands the adjustability range to cover the entire height of the seat back while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides the adjustment path for the height adjustment member, defines the bracing point location, and structures the seat back. This multi-functionality allows for broader adjustability without adding separate adjustment mechanisms that would be limited by seat dimensions.
3Device complexity
If adjustment requires access to the rear of the seat, then the structure can be simple, but the ease of operation becomes inconvenient for frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring access to the rear of the seat for adjustment, the mechanism is inverted so that the adjustment operation can be performed from the front. The height adjustment member engages with the slot and can be repositioned by pulling or sliding it vertically, with the engagement (such as integral flanges catching on the slot edges) occurring automatically during the adjustment motion visible from the front.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-servicing during the adjustment operation. As the height adjustment member is moved to a new position, the integral flanges automatically engage with the slot edges to secure the new bracing point height without requiring additional fastening steps or access to the rear of the seat.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple slots are provided at different locations, then the bracing point can be adjusted to different positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single slot in the seat back serves as the universal adjustment path for the height adjustment member. The slot is positioned and dimensioned to allow the bracing point to be adjusted to all necessary heights. This single multi-functional slot replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate slots or adjustment mechanisms at different locations, maintaining adaptability while reducing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to restraining means for seats which can be conveniently adjusted. Accordingly, the invention consists in one aspect of a seat assembly (1) comprising a seat (1) having one or more straps (7) , the straps (7) having a primary bracing point located on the assembly, one or more apertures (10) , and at least one bracing member (11) , wherein the bracing member (11) is co-operable with at least one of the straps (7) and at least one of the apertures (10) to form a secondary bracing point for the strap (7) . In a second aspect, the invention consists of a five-point harness (7,8,9) for a child's safety seat (1) , comprising at least one strap (7) and at least one bracing member (11) , the bracing member having a bracing surface for engagement with at least one strap (7) , the bracing member (11) being moveable along said strap (7) to be co-operable with apertures (10) in a seat (10) to be secured releasably to said seat (1) .