Child Safety Seat Strap Balancer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety seats face challenges in secure attachment to vehicle anchor points, particularly for seat belt positioning booster seats, which may not be adequately secured, leading to potential movement during impacts and installation complexities.
Innovation Solution
A child safety seat attachment system utilizing adjustable straps with locking members and a balancer assembly to ensure equal tension across attachment ends, allowing for secure anchoring to vehicle anchor points through connectors, with a method involving pulling ends and attachment ends to achieve balanced tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle seat belts are used to secure child safety seats, then full-size adults can be accommodated, but child protection is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into separate components: attachment straps with connectors for vehicle anchor points, and a separate harness for occupant retention. This segmentation allows the attachment system to be optimized for child safety while the harness handles occupant size variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Attachment straps serve as an intermediary mechanism between the vehicle seat belt system and the child safety seat. The straps connect to vehicle anchor points (LATCH system) providing dedicated child protection, while the existing seat belt harness continues to accommodate various occupant sizes.
2Ease of operation
If belt-positioning booster seats are left unsecured to the vehicle, then installation is simple, but the booster seat may move unintentionally during occupancy
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment straps incorporate adjustable tensioning mechanisms that allow the system to adapt dynamically. The straps can be easily adjusted during installation and automatically tension themselves to maintain stability while occupying various positions during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system allows changes in tension and position parameters of the straps. The adjustable nature of the straps enables simple installation with minimal effort while maintaining the ability to secure the booster seat firmly against unintentional movement.
3Reliability
If complex attachment mechanisms are used to secure child safety seats, then secure attachment is achieved, but installation becomes cumbersome and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment straps are designed to be universal in their application, working with standard vehicle anchor points (LATCH system) and various child safety seat types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for complex, specialized mechanisms while maintaining secure attachment across different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment straps incorporate self-tensioning and self-locking features that automatically secure the child safety seat once installed. The system performs much of the attachment work itself, reducing the complexity of manual adjustment and making the installation process more straightforward.
4Reliability
If multiple attachment points and straps are used to secure child safety seats, then secure anchoring is achieved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system merges multiple attachment functions into an integrated strap assembly. The connectors, straps, and tensioning mechanisms are combined into a unified system that attaches to vehicle anchor points and secures the child safety seat in a single coordinated operation, reducing installation time while maintaining security.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to child safety seats, and in particular, an apparatus and method for securing child safety seats within a vehicle. Embodiments may provide a safety seat that includes a base defining a cavity therein. The safety seat may further include a first strap (460) and a second strap (460) where the first strap and the second strap each include a pulling end (464) and an attachment end (462). The safety seat may also include a balancer assembly disposed within the cavity where each of the first and second straps pass through the balancer assembly, and where a pulling force applied to the pulling end of either of the first strap or the second strap results in a force on the attachment ends of both of the first and second strap that is substantially equal.