Movable Tether Bracket Spring Biasing Child Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child seat restraint systems in vehicles often require complex installation procedures and may not provide adequate tension on top tethers, leading to incorrect installation and potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A restraint system featuring a tether attachment bracket that moves between two positions along the seatback, with a spring biasing mechanism and a retractor system that allows for intuitive and correct tensioning of the top tether, eliminating the need to thread the tether through a loop and ensuring proper installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional tether attachment bracket is used, then the installation structure is simple, but the top tether tension is inadequate and installation correctness cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The tether attachment bracket is designed to be movable along the seatback rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The bracket can slide between multiple positions and is retained at specific locations, enabling the system to adapt to different installation scenarios while ensuring adequate tether tension through proper geometric positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism automatically biases the tether attachment bracket toward the second position, providing self-tensioning functionality. When the top tether is attached, the spring force naturally pulls the bracket to the correct position, ensuring adequate tension without requiring manual adjustment or complex control systems.
2Reliability
If a complex installation procedure is required, then adequate tension can be achieved, but the installation becomes difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the tensioning function automatically through the spring mechanism. When the top tether is attached to the movable bracket, the spring force automatically pulls the bracket to the second position, creating adequate tension without requiring the installer to perform complex threading or adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable bracket acts as an intermediary between the top tether and the seatback. Instead of directly attaching the tether to a fixed point, the bracket serves as a mediating component that can move to optimize the geometric relationship, ensuring proper tension while simplifying the installation process for the user.
3Reliability
If the tether must be threaded through a loop, then attachment is secure, but the installation procedure becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the threading operation from the installation process. Instead of requiring the top tether to be threaded through a loop, the system uses a direct attachment mechanism where the tether connects to the movable bracket, eliminating the time-consuming threading step while maintaining secure attachment through the spring-biased positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-configured to bias the bracket toward the tensioning position. This preliminary setup means that when the tether is attached, the correct geometric relationship and adequate tension are automatically achieved without requiring the installer to perform additional threading or adjustment actions.
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 system provides easy and correct installation of child seats by ensuring adequate tension on the top tether, enhancing safety and reducing the likelihood of incorrect installation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupled to the seatback and the tether attachment bracket and biasing the tether attachment bracket to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A restraint system includes a seatback having a top end portion; a retainer attached to the top end portion; a tether attachment bracket movable between a first position retained by the retainer and a second position below the first position along the seatback; and a spring coupled to the seatback and the tether attachment bracket and biasing the tether attachment bracket to the second position.