GB2415939A

GB2415939A - Restraining device for child restraint system

Info

Publication number: GB2415939A
Application number: GB0415509A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norma Ryan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-10
Filing date: 2004-07-10
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Also published as: GB0415509D0

Abstract

A restraining device for retaining a child in a child restraint system. The child restraint system is of the type having two shoulder straps 3a,3b. The restraining device comprises a pair of sleeve means 4a,4b, each sleeve means being adapted to receive a shoulder strap, and a connector 5 for the sleeve means which is adapted to maintain the shoulder straps in position above a child's shoulders during use. At least one of the sleeve means comprises an opening along its length and a fastener for releasably closing the opening. Also described is a method of restraining a child in a child restraint system using the restraining device of the invention. The sleeves and connector may comprise a piece of fabric, and the releasable fastener may comprise snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or a ring type system.

Description

241 5939

RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM

17 Technical Field

19 The invention relates to a restraining device for retaining a child in a child restraint system. In 21 particular, the invention relates to a restraining 22 device useful for retaining a child in a child car 23 seat.

Background to Invention

27 Various devices have been described for retaining a 28 child in a child restraint system. Unfortunately, 29 many of these do not adequately restrain the child.

In particular, children in the toddler age range 31 tend to be very active and are difficult to restrain 32 for any length of time.

1 Specifically, many restraining devices do not 2 prevent the child from slipping the shoulder straps 3 of the restraining device off their shoulders. This 4 can be particularly dangerous in the case of the child restraint system being a child car seat where 6 it can be distracting for the driver. Moreover, in 7 the event of an accident, the child would not be 8 adequately restrained increasing the risk of injury.

In addition, some child restraining devices are 11 uncomfortable for the child and may unduly restrict 12 the child's movements. Other devices are complicated 13 requiring the use of multiple straps and fittings.

14 Installing or attaching these devices can be frustrating and timeconsuming.

17 It is an object of the invention to overcome at 18 least one of the above referenced problems.

Statements of the Invention

22 According to the invention, there is provided a 23 restraining device for retaining a child in a child 24 restraint system. The child restraint system is of the type having two shoulder straps. The 26 restraining device comprises a pair of sleeve means, 27 each sleeve means being adapted to receive a 28 shoulder strap, and a connector for the sleeve means 29 which is adapted to maintain the shoulder straps in position above a child's shoulders during use. At 31 least one of the sleeve means comprises an opening 1 along its length and a fastener for releasably 2 closing the opening.

4 As used herein, the term "child restraint system" should be understood to mean any harness system for 6 restraining a child such as those provided on a 7 child car seat, a buggy or a high-chair. The term 8 "fastener" as used herein should be understood to 9 mean any type of fastening means.

11 In one embodiment of the invention, the connector of 12 the restraining device is adapted to inhibit a child 13 from inserting their hands between the shoulder 14 straps. Typically, the connector provides a barrier which extends between the sleeve means. Suitably, 16 the barrier is adapted such that when in position it 17 extends downwardly from adjacent a child's shoulders 18 and ideally substantially covers the child's chest.

In a preferable embodiment, the connector comprises 21 a piece of fabric. Although the type of material 22 used here is a fabric, other types of material may 23 also be used.

In one embodiment, each sleeve means is formed by 26 folding an edge portion of the piece of fabric over 27 on itself and connecting the overlapping parts with 28 the fastener.

Alternatively, each sleeve means is formed by 31 attaching a piece of material to the connector, 32 folding an edge of the piece of material over on 1 itself to form a sleeve and securing the thus-formed 2 overlapping parts with the fastener.

4 In one embodiment, only one of the sleeve means comprises an opening and a fastener for releasably 6 closing the opening.

8 In an alternative embodiment, each sleeve means 9 comprises an opening and a fastener for releasably closing the opening.

12 Suitably, the fastener comprises one or more snap 13 fasteners. Typically, the fastener comprises two to 14 four snap fasteners. More typically, the fastener comprises three snap fasteners.

16 (kTM) 17 Preferably, the fastener comprises a YKK ring type 18 system selected from the group comprising System DUR 19 4, System DUR 5, System DUR 8 and System DUR 9.

21 In one embodiment, the fastener comprises a hook and 22 loop fastener. Other types of fasteners may also be 23 used, for example buttons or zip fasteners.

Preferably, the fastener is located on an aspect of 26 the sleeve means which, during use, abuts the 27 child's body. In this embodiment, the fastener is 28 concealed from the child's view, thus reducing any 29 temptation for the child to meddle with the fastener during use.

1 Suitably, the sleeve means comprise a material which 2 is strengthened relative to the material of the 3 connector. The use of a strengthened material for 4 the sleeve means prevents the child from gathering the material into folds. Thus, the child cannot 6 displace the device by bunching or gathering the 7 material downwardly from their chest.

9 Typically, the connector comprises a piece of material between 5 and 30 cm in length. More 11 typically, the connector comprises a piece of 12 material between 10 and 20 cm in length.

13 Ideally, the connector comprises a soft material, 14 for example velour, cotton or wool.

16 Preferably, the connector comprises an elasticized 17 material.

19 In one embodiment of the invention, the central section comprises a piece of material that tapers 21 inwardly towards a lowermost end.

23 The invention also relates to the combination of a 24 child restraint system and a restraining device according to the invention.

27 The invention also relates to a method of 28 restraining a child in a child restraint system of 29 the type having two shoulder straps, the method comprising the steps of: 31 - placing a child in the child restraint 32 system; 1 - providing a restraining device according to 2 the invention; 3 - opening at least one of the sleeve means by 4 releasing the fastener; - placing one of the shoulder straps within 6 the opened sleeve means and then closing the 7 sleeve means with the fastener such that it 8 embraces the strap; 9 - placing the other shoulder strap within the other sleeve means; and 11 - positioning the restraining device so that 12 it prevents the child from displacing the 13 shoulder straps from above their shoulders.

In one embodiment of the method of the invention, 16 the other shoulder strap is slidably inserted 17 through an opening of the sleeve means.

19 The invention also relates to a method of making a restraining device for retaining a child in a child 21 restraint system. The child restraint system is of 22 the type having two shoulder straps. The method 23 comprises the steps of: 24 - taking a first piece of material having a top portion, a lowermost portion and two side 26 portions; 27 - folding an edge of each of the side portions over 28 on itself and fastening the thus-formed 29 overlapping portions to form a pair of sleeve means; 1 wherein at least one of the sleeve means is fastened 2 with a releasable fastener to allow opening of the 3 sleeve means for receipt of the shoulder strap.

Brief Description of the Figures

7 The invention will be more clearly understood from

8 the following description of one embodiment

9 thereof, given by way of example only, in which: 11 Figure 1 is a front plan view of a restraining 12 device according to the invention; 14 Figure 2 is a rear plan view of the restraining device of Fig.1; 17 Figure 3 is a rear plan view of the device of Fig. 1 18 in which the sleeve means are open; and Figure 4 shows the restraining device of Fig. 1 21 attached to a child car seat restraint system.

23 Detailed Description of the Invention

-

Referring to the Figures, and initially to Figures 26 1 to 3, there is illustrated a restraining device 27 according to the invention, and indicated generally 28 by the reference numeral 1, for retaining a child 29 in a child restraint system. In this case, and as shown in Figure 4, the child restraint system is a 31 child car seat 2 having a five point harness system 32 which includes a pair of shoulder straps 3a, 3b 1 which in use are placed over the shoulders of the 2 child (not shown).

4 The restraining device 1 comprises a pair of sleeve means 4a, 4b, each sleeve means 4a, 4b being 6 adapted to receive a shoulder strap 3a, 3b, and a 7 connector 5 for the sleeve means comprising a piece 8 of material which, during use, is adapted to 9 maintain the shoulder straps in position above a child's shoulders. Each of the sleeve means 4a, 4b 11 comprises an opening 6a, 6b along its length and a 12 fastening means 7 for releasably closing the 13 opening around a strap 3a, 3b.

The connector 5 comprises a piece of soft fabric 16 such as velour. This helps prevent any discomfort 17 for the child. In addition, the connector 5 may be 18 elasticized to reduce the risk of injury to the 19 child in the event of an accident. The connector 5 prevents the child from inserting their hands 21 between the shoulder straps 3a, 3b. This is 22 achieved by using an elongated piece of fabric 23 which substantially covers the child's chest 24 between the shoulder straps 3a, 3b. Typically, a piece of fabric between 5 and 30 cm in length is 26 used. This prevents the child from displacing the 27 shoulder straps 3a, 3b but does not unduly restrict 28 the normal movements of the child.

The sleeve means 4a, 4b comprise a material 31 strengthened relative to the connector 5 in order 32 to ensure that the shoulder straps 3a, 3b are 1 securely maintained within the sleeve means 4a, 4b.

2 This provides additional protection in the event of 3 an accident.

The use of snap fasteners as the fastening means 6 allows an adult to easily and quickly attach and 7 detach the sleeves and shoulder straps. In 8 addition, snap fasteners are chosen that are 9 sufficiently difficult to open so as to prevent them being opened by a child. In Figures 2 and 3, 11 each fastening means 7 comprises three snap 12 fasteners. Each snap fastener has a top portion 8 13 and a bottom portion 9 which can be joined together 14 to releasable close the openings 6a, 6b. Snap fasteners selected from the YKK'ring type system 16 comprising System DUR4, System DUR 5, System DUR 8 17 and System DUR 9 have been found to be particularly 18 effective.

Although the type of fastener used here is a snap 21 fastener, other types of fasteners may also be 22 used, such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, or 23 zip fasteners.

Figure 4 shows the restraining device 1 attached to 26 a harness of a child car seat 2. In use, a child 27 is placed in the child car seat 2 and the 28 restraining device 1 is attached by releasing the 29 fasteners 7 to open the sleeve means 4a, 4b. The shoulder straps 3a, 3b are then placed within the 31 sleeve means 4a, 4b and the sleeve means 4a, 4b are 32 closed by joining the top portions 8 and bottom 1 portions 9 of the fasteners 7. This secures the 2 shoulder straps 3a, 3b within the sleeve means 4a, 3 4b and thereby maintains the shoulder straps 3a, 3b 4 in position above the child's shoulders.

6 The restraining device 1 can be detached from the 7 child restraint system 2 by simply opening the 8 fasteners 7 on the sleeve means 4a, 4b.

The restraining device 1 shown in Figures 2 and 3 11 comprises an opening 6a, 6b along the length of 12 each sleeve means 4a, 4b. However, in an 13 alternative embodiment only one of the sleeve means 14 comprises an opening along its length. In this embodiment, one of the shoulder straps 3a, 3b must 16 be slidably inserted through the sleeve means.

18 To reduce the number of steps required to use the 19 restraining device, the device may remain attached to one shoulder strap of the child restraint system 21 when not in use.

23 The restraining device may be made by: 24 - taking a first piece of material having a top portion, a lowermost portion and two side 26 portions to form the connector; 27 - attaching a piece of material to each of the 28 sides of the connector; 29 - folding an edge of each of the pieces of material over on itself and fastening the thus-formed 31 overlapping portions to form a pair of sleeve 32 means; 1 wherein at least one of the sleeve means is fastened 2 with a releasable fastener to allow opening of the 3 sleeve means for receipt of the shoulder strap.

Alternatively, the restraining device may comprise 6 a single piece of material wherein each sleeve 7 means is formed by folding an edge portion of the 8 piece of material over on itself and connecting the 9 overlapping parts with the fastener.

The restraining device is light, portable and 11 inexpensive to make and has no bulky connectors or 12 moving parts. Moreover, the sort fabric of the 13 connector does not provide any discomfort for the 14 child. It prevents the child from separating the shoulder straps of the child restraint system 16 without unduly restricting the child's normal 17 movements. In addition, the fasteners allow the 18 device to be easily and quickly attached to the 19 child restraint system with minimum effort.

21 The invention is not limited to the embodiments 22 herein before described which may be varied in 23 construction, and detail without departing from the 24 spirit of the invention.

Claims

1 Claims 3 1. A restraining device for retaining a child in 4 a child

restraint system, the child restraint system including a pair of shoulder straps, the restraining 6 device comprising: 7 a pair of sleeve means, each sleeve means being 8 adapted to receive a shoulder strap; and 9 a connector for the sleeve means which is adapted to maintain the shoulder straps in 11 position above a child's shoulders during use; 12 wherein at least one of the sleeve means comprises an 13 opening along its length, and a fastener for 14 releasably closing the opening.

16 2. A restraining device according to Claim 1 17 wherein the connector is adapted to inhibit a child 18 from inserting their hands between the shoulder 19 straps.

21 3. A restraining device according to Claims 1 or 22 2 in which the connector comprises a piece of fabric.

24 4. A restraining device according to Claim 3 wherein each sleeve means is formed by folding an 26 edge portion of the piece of fabric over on itself 27 and connecting the overlapping parts with the 28 fastener.

1 5. A restraining device according to any 2 preceding Claim wherein each sleeve means is formed 3 by attaching a piece of material to the connector, 4 folding an edge of the piece of material over on itself to form a sleeve and securing the thus-formed 6 overlapping parts with the fastener.

8 6. A restraining device according to any 9 preceding Claim wherein only one of the sleeve means comprises an opening and a fastener for releasably 11 closing the opening.

13 7. A restraining device according to any of 14 Claims 1 to 5 wherein each sleeve means comprises an opening and a fastener for releasably closing the 16 opening.

18 8. A restraining device according to any 19 preceding Claim wherein the fastener comprises one or more snap fasteners.

22 9. A restraining device according Claim 8 wherein 23 the fastener comprises two to four snap fasteners.

10. A restraining device according to Claim 9 26 wherein the fastener comprises three snap fasteners.

28 11. A restraining device according to any 29 preceding Claim wherein the fastener comprises a YKK(6 ring type system selected from the group comprising (I 1 System DUR 4, System DUR 5, System DUR 8 and System 2 DUR 9.

4 12. A restraining device according to any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the fastener comprises a hook 6 and loop fastener.

8 13. A restraining device according to any 9 preceding Claim wherein the fastener is located on an aspect of the sleeve means which, during use, abuts 11 the child's body.

13 14. A restraining device according to any 14 preceding Claim wherein the sleeve means comprise a material which is strengthened relative to the 16 material of the connector.

18 15. A restraining device according to any 19 preceding Claim wherein the connector comprises a piece of material between 5 and 30 cm in length.

22 16. A restraining device Claim 15 wherein the 23 connector comprises a piece of material between 10 24 and 20 cm in length.

26 17. A restraining device according to any 27 preceding Claim wherein the connector comprises a 28 soft material. is

1 18. A restraining device according to any 2 preceding Claim wherein the connector comprises an 3 elasticized material.

19. A restraining device according to any 6 preceding Claim wherein the central section comprises 7 a piece of material that tapers inwardly towards a 8 lowermost end.

20. The combination of a child restraint system 11 and a restraining device according to any of Claims 1 12 to 19.

14 21. A method of restraining a child in a child restraint system, the child restraint system 16 including a pair of shoulder straps, the method 17 comprising the steps of: 18 - placing a child in the child restraint 19 system; - providing a restraining device according to 21 any of Claims 1 to 19; 22 - opening at least one of the sleeve means by 23 releasing the fastener; 24 - placing one of the shoulder straps within the opened sleeve means and then closing the 26 sleeve means with the fastener such that it 27 embraces the strap; 28 - placing the other shoulder strap within the 29 other sleeve means; and 1 - positioning the restraining device so that it 2 prevents the child from displacing the 3 shoulder straps from above their shoulders.

22. A method according to Claim 21 wherein the 6 other shoulder strap is slidably inserted through an 7 opening of the sleeve means.

9 23. A method of making a restraining device for retaining a child in a child restraint system, the 11 child restraint system including a pair of shoulder 12 straps, the method comprising the steps of: 13 - taking a first piece of material having a top 14 portion, a lowermost portion and two side portions; 16 - folding an edge of each of the side portions over 17 on itself and fastening the thus-formed 18 overlapping portions to form a pair of sleeve 19 means; wherein at least one of the sleeve means is fastened 21 with a releasable fastener to allow opening of the 22 sleeve means for receipt of the shoulder strap.