Adjustable Child Seat Torso Section for LATCH Belt Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing juvenile vehicle seats fail to accommodate children of varying sizes effectively, as they either do not adjust in size or require improper use of vehicle seatbelts for secure anchoring, posing safety and fitting issues as children grow.
Innovation Solution
A juvenile vehicle seat with a variable-height shell and slidable torso section that can be adjusted to accommodate taller children in a BOOSTER mode and shorter children in a CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode, using a torso-section lock system to change the child-receiving space size, and encouraging the use of LATCH belts over vehicle seatbelts for secure anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a juvenile vehicle seat is designed with fixed dimensions, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but it cannot accommodate children of varying sizes as they grow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a slidable torso section that can move vertically along the seat back, allowing the seat to dynamically adjust its dimensions. The torso section includes a slider mechanism that engages with the seat back frame, enabling caregivers to reposition the torso section to accommodate children of different heights and weights, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The seat is divided into distinct functional segments: a base section, a slidable torso section, and a headrest section. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component, particularly the torso section which can be repositioned to fit children at different growth stages, providing versatility without requiring complete redesign of the entire seat structure
2Ease of operation
If a juvenile vehicle seat exposes lap-belt-receiver gaps and shoulder-belt-receiver channels, then vehicle seatbelt anchoring is facilitated, but improper use may occur in CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode
Solution Approach 1:
The belt receiver components are dynamically positioned based on torso section elevation. When the torso section is in the raised position (BOOSTER mode), the lap-belt-receiver gaps and shoulder-belt-receiver channels are exposed to facilitate vehicle seatbelt anchoring. When the torso section is lowered (CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode), these receivers are concealed, guiding caregivers to use the LATCH belt system instead, thus preventing improper seatbelt usage
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable torso section acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the visibility and accessibility of the belt receivers. By moving the torso section between raised and lowered positions, it mediates between two different anchoring requirements: exposing receivers for BOOSTER mode and concealing them to promote LATCH belt usage in CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode
3Adaptability or versatility
If a juvenile vehicle seat is designed to accommodate both BOOSTER and CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT modes, then versatility is improved, but the risk of misuse increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat uses a dynamic configuration system where the torso section can be raised or lowered to indicate the operational mode. In BOOSTER mode, the raised torso section exposes vehicle seatbelt receivers and provides appropriate side wing coverage. In CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode, the lowered torso section conceals these receivers and adjusts side wing positioning, making the seat structurally unsuitable for BOOSTER mode and thereby preventing misuse
Solution Approach 2:
The seat provides visual and structural feedback to caregivers about the correct mode of operation. The exposure or concealment of belt receivers, along with the positioning of side wings relative to the torso section, serves as feedback indicating whether the seat is properly configured for BOOSTER or CONVERTIBLE CAR-SEAT mode, reducing the likelihood of incorrect usage
Data Source
AI summary
A child restraint is adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle. The child restraint includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The child restraint can be anchored to the vehicle using a LATCH belt. A vehicle seat belt can also be used to anchor the child restraint to the vehicle.