Top Tether Damper With Deformable Finger for Child Seat Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional car seats lack energy absorption means in their top tethers, which can lead to increased impact transmission and potential injury during sudden deceleration, and interfere with the rotation and reclination of the seat shell with respect to the base.
Innovation Solution
A car seat design incorporating an energy-absorbing elongate finger in the base that deforms when a load exceeds a predetermined threshold, allowing the tether to pay out and absorb energy, while maintaining the ability to rotate and recline the seat shell without interfering with the tether path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If robust non-extensible webbing is used for the top tether, then the car seat rotation is prevented, but energy absorption capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, rigid tether system into a dynamic one by incorporating an elongate finger that can deform elastically. The finger bends and straightens in response to load changes, allowing the tether to dynamically adjust its length and absorb energy during impact while maintaining rotation prevention during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the tether system by introducing an elastic elongate finger that can change its effective length and stiffness. The finger's elastic modulus, cross-sectional area, and length are optimized to provide appropriate energy absorption characteristics while maintaining structural integrity for rotation prevention.
2Loss of energy
If extensible webbing is used for energy absorption, then impact energy is reduced, but car seat stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate finger provides dynamic length adjustment through elastic deformation. During normal conditions, the finger remains straight maintaining tether tension and stability. During impact, the finger bends to extend the tether length, absorbing energy while the system transitions between stable and energy-absorbing states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite tether system combining the inextensible webbing material with the elastic elongate finger structure. This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both rigid behavior for stability and flexible behavior for energy absorption, depending on the loading conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tether path is fixed to prevent rotation, then car seat stability is improved, but rotation and reclination of the seat shell are interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotation prevention function from the tether itself and relocates it to the base structure. The tether is allowed to move and extend freely, while the base provides the rotational constraint through its connection to the vehicle anchor, separating the functions of tension maintenance and rotation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate finger acts as an intermediary element between the webbing and the base. It mediates the interaction by providing elastic deformation that allows the tether to pay out during impact without creating friction or interference with the seat shell's rotation and reclination movements.
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 design effectively absorbs energy, reducing impact transmission and maintaining consistent tension in the tether, enhancing occupant safety by minimizing injury risk during impacts and allowing seamless rotation and reclination of the seat shell.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-absorbing elongate finger about which the tether is at least partially wrapped, the elongate finger configured to deform when a load applied thereto by the tether exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to pay out the tether from the base
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are car seats and bases therefor. The base includes top tether and an energy-absorbing elongate finger. The tether includes webbing. The webbing is at least partially wrapped about the elongate finger. The elongate finger is configured to deform when a load applied thereto by the webbing exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to pay out the webbing from the base.