Hands-Free Harness Mover for Child Restraint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child restraint systems require caregivers to manually handle and position restraint belts, making it difficult to securely seat and remove children without assistance.
Innovation Solution
A hands-free harness mover system that automatically raises and lowers the side belts of a child restraint harness using a movable actuator flap and elastic strips, allowing caregivers to seat and remove children without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling of restraint belts is used, then the system structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates as caregivers must manually position belts to seat and remove children
Solution Approach 1:
The side belts are made dynamically positionable through the hands-free harness mover system, which automatically raises and lowers them based on child weight detection. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by eliminating manual intervention while managing complexity through automated mechanical response to gravitational force.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint system performs self-service by automatically positioning the side belts without caregiver intervention. The system detects the child's weight and autonomously adjusts the belt positions, allowing the device to serve itself and resolve the operational difficulty without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
2Extent of automation
If automatic hands-free harness mover is implemented, then the ease of operation improves by enabling automatic belt positioning, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic or motorized automation systems with a purely mechanical solution based on gravitational force and weight detection. The hands-free harness mover uses the child's own weight to trigger belt lowering through mechanical linkages, achieving automation without complex control systems or power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable actuator flap serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates the physical presence and weight of the child into automated belt positioning actions. This intermediary component mediates between the child's weight and the belt-lowering mechanism, enabling automation through a simple mechanical trigger rather than complex sensing and actuation systems.
3Ease of operation
If side belts are kept in raised position, then ease of seating improves as child can be placed easily, but the ability to restrain child deteriorates until belts are lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The side belts dynamically transition between raised and lowered positions based on real-time detection of child presence and weight. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by ensuring belts are raised for easy seating, then automatically lowered to provide secure restraint, adapting the system's state to the current operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by raising the side belts before the child is seated to facilitate easy placement. Once the child is in position and their weight is detected, the system automatically executes the subsequent action of lowering the belts to provide restraint, ensuring both ease of seating and security are achieved in sequence.
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
Facilitates easy seating and secure restraint of children by automatically positioning the side belts, reducing the need for manual handling and enhancing caregiver convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic strip associated with and linked to the shoulder-gripping portions of the first side belt and a second elastic strip associated with and linked to the shoulder-gripping portions of the second side belt
Data Source
AI summary
A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. A harness mover is coupled to the seat and harness.