Flat Child Restraint Belt Housing With Auto-Locking Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing restraint belt devices for children are not ergonomic, can be uncomfortable, prone to loosening, and may cause damage or interfere with stroller folding due to bulky designs and lack of secure fixation.
Innovation Solution
A flat, deformable seat belt device with a housing that automatically tensions the belt upon buckle engagement, preventing loosening and allowing adjustable length without protruding significantly, enabling secure child restraint and space-saving storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wide belt is used to improve child comfort and security, then the restraining effect is improved, but the housing volume increases and interferes with stroller folding and stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The belt is routed through a channel that runs laterally underneath the seat bottom rather than through a vertical housing structure. This lateral routing in the horizontal dimension allows the belt to be wide enough for comfort and security while keeping the housing profile low and compact, enabling stroller folding and stacking without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with a thin, flat profile that accommodates the belt mechanism without significant protrusion. The belt itself uses a flat belt construction that provides comfortable contact with the child while maintaining a sleek overall device profile suitable for compact storage.
2Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is used to automatically tension the belt, then ease of operation is improved, but the belt can still be loosened by the child pulling on it
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tensioning mechanism is extracted and housed separately in a housing attached to the seat bottom, distinct from the belt routing path. The belt runs through a channel underneath the seat, separating the tensioning function from the restraint function, so that when the belt is pulled, it engages the locking mechanism rather than simply releasing spring tension.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt system incorporates a locking mechanism that prevents the belt from being loosened by child manipulation. The preliminary design includes a cable pull mechanism or similar locking feature that blocks belt movement once engaged, countering any subsequent attempts by the child to pull or loosen the belt.
3Device complexity
If the belt is routed through a channel under the seat bottom, then the belt path is simplified, but it interferes with shopping trolley usage
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is positioned and designed to accommodate the belt routing locally underneath the seat bottom, with the belt emerging at specific points that do not interfere with shopping trolley attachment points. The local configuration of the channel and belt emergence points allows simplified routing while maintaining compatibility with external attachments.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the housing and mechanism are made deformable, then adaptability to collapsible strollers is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing and mechanism are designed with deformable or flexible characteristics that allow them to adapt to the collapsing and expanding movements of foldable stroller frames. The housing can be made from flexible materials or designed with movable components that accommodate structural changes without requiring complex assembly or disassembly procedures.
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
Ensures secure child restraint without discomfort, prevents belt damage, and allows for easy stacking and folding of strollers by maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic element is provided which tensions the belt and pulls the belt into the housing
Implementation Method 2
the belt is blocked via a cable pull mechanism when the buckle attached to the free end of the belt is pushed into the lock
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A flat housing (1) holds a belt (4) which can be extended against the force of a spring, the belt being blocked to further extension as soon as the belt clasp (3) is situated in the belt buckle.