Child Safety Seat Tether With Sliding Webbing Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Child safety seat tethers currently have limited energy absorption during crashes due to rigid mounting and limited stretch length, which restricts their ability to effectively absorb crash loads.
Innovation Solution
A tether assembly for child safety seats that includes a length of webbing routed through slides, allowing slippage to increase the available stretch length and provide additional energy absorption by overcoming friction, with features like three-bar slides and frangible stitching to manage slippage and energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid mounting is used for the tether, then the mounting strength is improved, but the energy absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a rigid mounting system to a dynamic sliding mounting system. The slides allow the tether to move relative to the mounting points during a crash, enabling the system to adapt its configuration dynamically. This dynamic behavior allows the tether to increase its effective length and absorb more energy through extended stretching, while still maintaining secure mounting through friction and normal forces between the slides and mounting surfaces.
2Loss of energy
If the tether length is increased to provide more stretch, then the energy absorption is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the tether system into multiple functional segments: the tether webbing itself, the slides, the mounting points, and the friction interfaces. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the webbing provides stretching, the slides enable movement and control friction, and the mounting points provide anchorages. This modular approach achieves increased energy absorption without requiring a single overly complex component.
Solution Approach 2:
The slides act as intermediary elements between the tether and the mounting points. They mediate the interaction by allowing controlled movement while maintaining connection through friction. This intermediary mechanism enables the tether to effectively increase its length and energy absorption capability without directly complicating the mounting structure, as the slides handle the complexity of coordinating movement and friction control.
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 tether assembly increases energy absorption by allowing more webbing to stretch and overcome friction, providing enhanced safety during crashes by increasing the length of material available to absorb impact forces.
Implementation Method 1
tethers are usually constructed of a material which exhibits stretch, and therefore provides some energy absorption
Implementation Method 2
increases energy absorption by allowing more webbing to stretch and overcome friction
Data Source
AI summary
An energy absorbing tether assembly for use with a child safety seat of the type having a pair of spaced apart slots in a shell.