Energy Absorbing Webbing for Child Restraint Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety seat harness systems are rigid and inflexible, causing severe bruising and bone injuries to children during accidents due to the transfer of impact forces, as they do not absorb shock loads effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of energy-absorbing webbing regions into the harness system, such as partially oriented yarn webbing with a non-elastic sheath, to allow elongation and absorb sudden forces, reducing the impact transferred to the child's body while maintaining sufficient restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid webbing material is used in the harness system, then the child is securely restrained, but impact forces are transferred to the child causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the webbing material by incorporating energy-absorbing sections with different mechanical properties. These sections have controlled elongation characteristics that allow them to stretch under impact loads, transforming the rigid webbing into a semi-flexible system that can dissipate energy while maintaining restraint effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness system uses composite construction by combining rigid webbing sections with energy-absorbing webbing sections in a single continuous belt. This composite structure allows different portions of the harness to perform different functions: the rigid sections provide structural integrity and restraint, while the energy-absorbing sections provide shock mitigation through controlled elongation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If elastic webbing material is used in the harness system, then impact forces are absorbed, but the child may not be sufficiently restrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing energy-absorbing webbing sections at specific locations within the harness system where impact forces are most likely to occur, such as along the shoulder straps and lap belt. The rigid webbing sections are positioned in areas requiring structural stability. This localized differentiation allows the harness to provide both restraint and energy absorption without compromising overall effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy-absorbing webbing sections are designed with specific elongation parameters that allow controlled stretching under impact loads. The material properties are engineered to provide sufficient restraint during normal use while enabling energy dissipation during accidents through controlled deformation within safe stress limits.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the webbing belt is made inelastic, then the harness provides stable restraint, but severe bruising and bone injuries occur during accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the previously static rigid webbing system. The energy-absorbing sections provide controlled mobility through elastic elongation, allowing the harness to adapt its structure in response to applied forces. This dynamic response enables the system to maintain stability during normal use while absorbing shock during impacts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The energy-absorbing regions effectively dissipate shock forces, reducing the risk of injury to children by allowing the harness to stretch and absorb impact, while still providing adequate restraint during accidents.
Implementation Method 1
energy-absorbing webbing regions into the harness system, such as partially oriented yarn webbing with a non-elastic sheath, to allow elongation and absorb sudden forces
Data Source
AI summary
Energy absorbing webbing is provided for use in child safety seat and child restraint devices. A harness system includes energy-absorbing regions into the construction of the harness to allow some release or extension of the harness during use. The energy-absorbing regions of the harness are formed using energy-absorbing webbing in a given region or regions to permit the webbing to extend or elongate so that strong forces are not fully and directly imparted to the child. The energy-absorbing region may be installed at various positions within the child safety seat and harness system and may be incorporated into the child safety harness as original equipment or as a retrofit feature.