Magnetic Child Seat Harness Retainer for Open Strap Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety harness retaining devices for child car seats are cumbersome and often designed for seats with metal buckles, making them difficult to operate and uncomfortable for users when placing a child in the seat, as they require retrieval of shoulder straps and buckles from underneath the child.
Innovation Solution
A magnetized safety harness retaining device with two parts, one secured to the child seat and the other to the safety belt, connected by magnetic force, allowing easy retrieval and positioning of the harnesses without the child sitting on them, featuring a pin and clasp for attachment and a strap wrapped around the belt with encased ferrous material for magnetic connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing safety harness retaining devices are used, then the safety belts can be held in a spread open position, but the devices include numerous components and are cumbersome to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The safety harness retaining device is divided into two separate parts: a first part that attaches to the car seat and a second part that attaches to the safety belt. This segmentation simplifies each individual component while maintaining the overall functionality of holding the safety belt in an open position during child seating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical connection systems with a magnetic attachment mechanism. The magnet in the first part and the ferrous material in the second part create a simple magnetic attraction that securely holds the safety belt in place without requiring complex mechanical fasteners or buckles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing safety harness retaining devices are used, then the safety belts can be held in a spread open position, but they are designed for use with car seats having metal buckles
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with universal applicability to work with various car seat types regardless of whether they have metal buckles or not. The magnetic attachment system and the strap configuration allow it to effectively hold safety belts in different car seat designs, making it a versatile solution across multiple car seat models.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a strap as an intermediary element that wraps around the safety belt and connects to the magnetic attachment system. This strap acts as a mediator between the safety belt and the car seat attachment, allowing the device to function reliably with different buckle types by providing a consistent attachment interface.
3Ease of operation
If safety belts are not held in position, then the device structure can be simpler, but the child must be placed on top of the shoulder straps and/or strap buckle which is uncomfortable and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary action by holding the safety belts in a spread open position before the child is seated. This preliminary positioning ensures that the shoulder straps and buckle are already in the correct location, allowing the child to be placed in the seat comfortably without needing to retrieve or adjust the belts afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic attachment system provides self-service functionality by automatically holding the safety belt in the correct position through magnetic attraction. The device maintains the safety belt configuration without requiring continuous manual adjustment or intervention, ensuring the child can be seated comfortably and the harness remains properly positioned throughout use.
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
Enables simple and comfortable seating of a child by keeping safety harnesses in an open position, allowing easy access and operation without the need for complex components or metal buckles, enhancing user experience and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The two parts are configured to be removably connected by simply pulling the safety belt in a direction away from the first part. In aspects, the two parts are removably connected by a magnetic force.
Implementation Method 2
The second part includes an encased ferrous material. And the first part and the second parts are removably connectable through a magnetic force between the magnet and the ferrous material.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety harness retaining device for a child seat has first and second parts. The first part has a body, a cover removably attached to the body to cover a first side of the body, a magnet enclosed by the cover and body, a pin attached to and extending from a second side of the body for piercing a covering of the child seat, and a clasp removably connectable to the pin for securing the first part to the covering. The second part has a strap configured to be wrapped around and secured to a safety harness belt of the child seat and has an encased ferrous material. And the first part and the second parts are removably connectable through a magnetic force between the magnet and the ferrous material.