EP1828734A1 - Tension indicator - Google Patents

Tension indicator

Info

Publication number
EP1828734A1
EP1828734A1 EP05811548A EP05811548A EP1828734A1 EP 1828734 A1 EP1828734 A1 EP 1828734A1 EP 05811548 A EP05811548 A EP 05811548A EP 05811548 A EP05811548 A EP 05811548A EP 1828734 A1 EP1828734 A1 EP 1828734A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strap
tension
shoulder
state
path
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05811548A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Shaun Carine
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Britax Excelsior Ltd
Original Assignee
Britax Excelsior Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Britax Excelsior Ltd filed Critical Britax Excelsior Ltd
Publication of EP1828734A1 publication Critical patent/EP1828734A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2803—Adaptations for seat belts
    • B60N2/2806—Adaptations for seat belts for securing the child seat to the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2803—Adaptations for seat belts
    • B60N2/2812—Adaptations for seat belts for securing the child to the child seat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/48—Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2803—Adaptations for seat belts
    • B60N2002/2815—Adaptations for seat belts with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/48—Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
    • B60R2022/4808—Sensing means arrangements therefor
    • B60R2022/4841—Sensing means arrangements therefor for sensing belt tension
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/10—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles specially adapted for children or animals
    • B60R22/105—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles specially adapted for children or animals for children

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness, particularly though not exclusively, a child's harness for automotive use.
  • an automotive child restraint system typically a child seat attached to the adult seat of a car or more precisely to the car at one of its seats, there is a requirement to tension the harness straps holding the child into the seat and/or the strap (s) tethering the seat in the vehicle.
  • this is usually done by drawing out a central strap, which is attached to and tensions the individual straps, particularly the shoulder straps.
  • tensioning is likely to be achieved by tightening the strap with a conventional strap adjuster and/or belt tensioner incorporated in the child seat.
  • tension indicator is used to mean a device to indicate at least an absence of slack.
  • shoulder strap is used to mean a strap passing over the shoulder of a user to either a buckled lap strap or to a buckle between left and right lap straps, a crotch strap also being provided at least under European regulations.
  • shoulder pad is used to mean a . pad on a shoulder strap for distributing strap load to the user. Normally the shoulder pad will extend largely over the user's chest and be pulled back onto the shoulder in operation by a secondary strap connecting the pad to an anchorage point of the shoulder strap or at least to the seat structure to which the shoulder strap is anchored. Shoulder pads are also known as chest pads.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an indicator of strap tension, in particular shoulder strap tension, and hence, overall harness tension.
  • a tension indica-tor for indicating tension in a restraint harness
  • the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad body member having a shoulder strap path provided therethrough, a strap biassing member arranged to be resiliently biassed into the shoulder strap path, the strap biassing member having a first state where the shoulder strap path is interrupted, the strap biassing member being movable away from said first state to a second state in the presence of a tensioned shoulder strap, and indicating means for indicating whether the strap biassing member is in the first state or the second state. Accordingly, the present invention provides a way of reliably indicating to a parent whether a child is properly held in a child safety seat.
  • the shoulder pad body member comprises inlet and outlet guide elements for guiding a shoulder strap through said tension indicator.
  • the strap biassing member acts on an indicator element, which is slidably mounted on said shoulder pad body member. As such movement of the strap biassing member between the first and second states results in a sliding movement of the indicator element between two positions.
  • the strap biassing member and indicator element may be pivotally coupled.
  • the indicator element in the first state, can be raised above the profile of the shoulder pad body element, thereby indicating that the shoulder strap is not correctly tensioned. If the shoulder strap is correctly tensioned the strap biassing member is deflected to the second state and the indicator element can be pulled flat within the profile of the shoulder pad body element. Moreover, the sliding movement of the indicator element between the its two positions can be used to cover or uncover visual signs that the shoulder strap is correctly or incorrectly tensioned.
  • the strap biassing member comprises a resilient member having a ⁇ X Y" or VV V" configuration.
  • the strap biassing member is moveable from its first to its second states by a predetermined tension sufficient to indicate a lack of slack in a restraint harness.
  • the tension indicator can be configured such that the strap biassing member is moveably as soon as there is sufficient force from a strap to remove slack in the strap.
  • the strap biassing member is moveable from its first state to its second state by a predetermined strap tension exerting a force of between 5 and 10 Newtons.
  • a shoulder pad for positioning between a restraint harness strap and a user, the pad having defined therethrough a strap path, wherein a tension indicator is incorporated into said strap path for indicating whether a strap passing through the shoulder pad is correctly tensioned.
  • a strap biassing member is configured for interrupting the strap path for deflecting a restraint harness strap accommodated in the strap path.
  • the strap biassing member is moveable to position outside the strap path by a restraint harness strap being accommodated in the strap path at under a predetermined tension.
  • a tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness by reference to shoulder strap tension
  • the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad for providing a shoulder strap path therethrough, the pad including points at opposite ends thereof for entry of a strap to and exit of the strap from the pad and, a backing against which the strap lies when tensioned, the strap path being between the entry and exit points and across the backing; a resilient member projecting from the backing into the strap path, the resilient member adopting a first, free state in the absence of strap tension in which the strap is deflected away from the backing and a second state in the presence of strap tension in which the resilient member is deflected towards the backing as the tension in the strap urges the strap towards the backing; indicating means for indicating whether the resilient member is in the first state or the second state according to strap tension, the indicating means being adapted to indicate at least absence of tension and the presence of desired tension in the strap.
  • the strap entry and exit points may allow the untensioned strap to separate from the pad
  • the pad includes elements extending over the strap on its side opposite from the backing to hold the pad on the strap.
  • the backing may extend continuously between the strap entry and exit points. Alternatively, it may be apertured along its length.
  • the strap biassing member may comprise a resilient member of Y or V configuration, with one limb (and the Y stem when provided) against or incorporated in a backing member and the other limb extending obliquely away from the backing. This other limb can project upwards or downwards in use and is urged towards the first limb by a tensioned strap acting on its distal end.
  • the shoulder pad may be rectilinear, it can also be at least partially concave, whereby the projecting limb is deflected against the one limb by a predetermined tension. In practice this tension is low, typically 5 to 10 Newtons. This is because what is important is not so much that the strap should be tensioned to an appreciable degree, which can cause discomfort to a user, but that there should be no slack in the strap.
  • Pre-tensioning of the strap can act to limit a user's movement, but for pre-tensioning to have a significant effect it is liable to be required to a level in excess of anything that is going to be comfortable for a child or indeed other user.
  • the resilient member can be of any suitable material, for example metallic, either a bent double leaf or a clothes peg configured spring. However, it is preferred that it is a plastics material spring, typically a V or Y section moulding of an engineering grade polymer.
  • the indicating means can be mechanical and visual on the one hand and electrical/electronic and visual/audio on the other hand. With a mechanical indicator, it is conceivable that an indicator scale projecting away from the backing could be provided. In one example, the indicator extends in the direction of the backing and the strap runs along it. For converting fore-sh ⁇ rtening movement of the distal end of the resilient limb towards the backing into- such movement, an indicating link can be provided.
  • the indicating link can be pivoted to the distal end and guided along the indicator scale on the backing.
  • the indicating scale may have graduations; it may also have a single indicia, for example a single colour area which is obscured when the resilient limb is pulled against the backing.
  • the backing/stationary limb and the resilient limb can be provided with a proximity switch arranged to change state on approach of the resilient limb corresponding to the predetennined strap tension.
  • a bicolour LED can be provided for indicating this desired change of state.
  • a strain gauge can be provided on the resilient limb. It can be arranged to drive a bicolour LED or indeed three LEDs, a first indicating slack, a second indicating partial tension and a third indicating desired tension.
  • the LED circuitry can be switched
  • any of a variety of seat occupancy detectors can be used such as a microswitch or a capacitative switch in the seat.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoulder pad with a tension indicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the shoulder pad of figure 1, with a shoulder strap shown in outline;
  • Figure 3 is a similar view to that of figure 2, with two electrical variants shown.
  • the shoulder pad comprises a base or body moulding 1, a resilient moulding (resilient member) 2 and an indicator moulding 3, together with an attachment strap 4, the pad being fitted to a shoulder strap 5 of a harness, otherwise not shown.
  • the base and indicator mouldings 1,3 are of conventional grade polypropylene, whilst the resilient moulding 2 is of engineering grade polymer such as nylon.
  • the base moulding is generally curved to a shape able to conform readily to the contour of a clothed user's shoulder.
  • the age and stature of the user can differ and the thickness of the user's clothing can vary from for example a summer shirt to a relatively thick winter coat.
  • the base moulding is designed to be flexible with low resilience. It is generally strip like from upper end 11 to lower end 12. Across its upper end, it has a slot 14 to enable the attachment strap 4 to be stitched in a loop extending through the slot.
  • the moulding Inwards of each end, has a strap guide 15,16 formed at a mould cavity projection from the back surface 17 of the pad.
  • the strap 5 can be threaded through apertures 18 formed in the moulding.
  • Along the edges of the base conveniently formed in upstanding flanges 19 are formed grooves 20.
  • the resilient moulding is generally Y shaped in side view, with one limb 21 extending in contact with the base moulding and welded to it at 22.
  • the other limb 23 is free at its distal end 24.
  • the arrangement is such that as the end is depressed towards the other limb and the base, the distal end moves away from the upper end 11 and towards the lower end 12.
  • the indicator moulding is generally U shaped, having two arms 25 and a foot 26.
  • the distal ends of the arms have hollow bosses 27, which engage over pegs 28 moulded integrally with the end 24 of the resilient member.
  • the ends 27 of the foot have in-turned fingers 28 which slidably engage with the grooves 20.
  • the arrangement is such that as the limb 21 is depressed, the foot moves towards the end 12.
  • the base is marked with a "good” marking 31 and a "bad” marking 32. When the latter is visible, the shoulder strap is too slack. When only the former is visible, the shoulder strap is adequately tensioned.
  • Figure 1 shows an intermediate position in which both markings are partially visible.
  • the shoulder strap 5 passes thraugh the strap guides 15,16 and over the end 24 of the resilient moulding. The latter deflects the strap from a straight run between the guides. As the strap is tensioned, the resilient end is depressed and the "bad" marking 32 is progressively obscured until only the "good” marking 31 remains visible at the flanges 19, between which the strap passes. Thus the parent of a child strapped in can know when the strap is correctly tensioned.
  • the indicator moulding 3 and the markings 31,32 are replaced by a proximity switch 51 arranged between the resilient limbs 21,23.
  • a red NO-GO LED 52 and a green GO LED 53 are positioned on the flange 19 of the base moulding. Other circuitry, including a battery, is not shown.
  • the circuit is switched on when the harness buckle is coupled, where a switch is provided in the buckle, or by a child's presence in the seat being first detected, where a seat occupancy switch is provided.
  • the red LED is illuminated.
  • the free limb is depressed towards its counterpart and the proximity switch causes the LEDs to change state, i.e. the red to extinguish and the green to illuminate, indicating adequate tension.
  • Figure 3 also shows an alternative, namely a strain gauge 61 on the resilient limb and additional LEDs 62,63. Thus progressive tensioning of the strap can be monitored.
  • the two red and green LEDs can be replaced with a single bicolour LED.

Abstract

A tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness, the tension indicator comprising a shoulder pad body member (1) having a shoulder strap path provided therethrough, a strap biassing member (2) having a first state where it projects into the shoulder strap path, the strap biassing member (2) being deflectable away from said first state to a second state in the presence of a tensioned shoulder strap (5), and indicating means for indicating whether the strap biassing member (2) is in the first state second state.

Description

TENSION INDICATOR
The present invention relates to a tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness, particularly though not exclusively, a child's harness for automotive use.
In an automotive child restraint system, typically a child seat attached to the adult seat of a car or more precisely to the car at one of its seats, there is a requirement to tension the harness straps holding the child into the seat and/or the strap (s) tethering the seat in the vehicle. For the former straps, this is usually done by drawing out a central strap, which is attached to and tensions the individual straps, particularly the shoulder straps. In the latter case, tensioning is likely to be achieved by tightening the strap with a conventional strap adjuster and/or belt tensioner incorporated in the child seat.
Conventional tensioning arrangements have no means by which the user can gauge the tension in the straps, aside from feeling them.
Despite the provision of the central strap for tensioning the child harness, the actual tension in the individual straps, and in particular the shoulder straps, may not be correct. For instance, application of reasonable tension on the central strap may not result in the desired shoulder strap tension due to friction at various points in the harness. In this connection, shoulder strap tension is more important than lap and crotch strap tension in setting up the harness to act correctly in an emergency. _ p _
In this specification, the term "tension indicator" is used to mean a device to indicate at least an absence of slack. The term "shoulder strap" is used to mean a strap passing over the shoulder of a user to either a buckled lap strap or to a buckle between left and right lap straps, a crotch strap also being provided at least under European regulations. The term "shoulder pad" is used to mean a . pad on a shoulder strap for distributing strap load to the user. Normally the shoulder pad will extend largely over the user's chest and be pulled back onto the shoulder in operation by a secondary strap connecting the pad to an anchorage point of the shoulder strap or at least to the seat structure to which the shoulder strap is anchored. Shoulder pads are also known as chest pads.
The object of the present invention is to provide an indicator of strap tension, in particular shoulder strap tension, and hence, overall harness tension.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tension indica-tor for indicating tension in a restraint harness, the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad body member having a shoulder strap path provided therethrough, a strap biassing member arranged to be resiliently biassed into the shoulder strap path, the strap biassing member having a first state where the shoulder strap path is interrupted, the strap biassing member being movable away from said first state to a second state in the presence of a tensioned shoulder strap, and indicating means for indicating whether the strap biassing member is in the first state or the second state. Accordingly, the present invention provides a way of reliably indicating to a parent whether a child is properly held in a child safety seat.
Preferably, the shoulder pad body member comprises inlet and outlet guide elements for guiding a shoulder strap through said tension indicator.
Conveniently, the strap biassing member acts on an indicator element, which is slidably mounted on said shoulder pad body member. As such movement of the strap biassing member between the first and second states results in a sliding movement of the indicator element between two positions. The strap biassing member and indicator element may be pivotally coupled.
In this respect, in the first state, the indicator element can be raised above the profile of the shoulder pad body element, thereby indicating that the shoulder strap is not correctly tensioned. If the shoulder strap is correctly tensioned the strap biassing member is deflected to the second state and the indicator element can be pulled flat within the profile of the shoulder pad body element. Moreover, the sliding movement of the indicator element between the its two positions can be used to cover or uncover visual signs that the shoulder strap is correctly or incorrectly tensioned.
Alternatively, or in addition, a switch can be provided which can be actuated by the sliding movement of the indicator element produce a separate visual or audible signal as to the position of the resilient member. Preferably, the strap biassing member comprises a resilient member having a λXY" or VVV" configuration.
Conveniently, the strap biassing member is moveable from its first to its second states by a predetermined tension sufficient to indicate a lack of slack in a restraint harness. In this respect, as also discussed below, the presence of slack is a potential cause of injury to a child if involved in a road traffic accident. Accordingly, the tension indicator can be configured such that the strap biassing member is moveably as soon as there is sufficient force from a strap to remove slack in the strap. Such a configuration will indicate that a child is securely held in a safety seat restraint without resulting in over tensioning of a strap to an extent which could, in itself, cause pain or discomfort to a child.
Preferably, the strap biassing member is moveable from its first state to its second state by a predetermined strap tension exerting a force of between 5 and 10 Newtons. These figures have been found to be particularly effective at indicating at least a lack of slack in a strap.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoulder pad for positioning between a restraint harness strap and a user, the pad having defined therethrough a strap path, wherein a tension indicator is incorporated into said strap path for indicating whether a strap passing through the shoulder pad is correctly tensioned.
Preferably, a strap biassing member is configured for interrupting the strap path for deflecting a restraint harness strap accommodated in the strap path.
Preferably, the strap biassing member is moveable to position outside the strap path by a restraint harness strap being accommodated in the strap path at under a predetermined tension.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness by reference to shoulder strap tension, the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad for providing a shoulder strap path therethrough, the pad including points at opposite ends thereof for entry of a strap to and exit of the strap from the pad and, a backing against which the strap lies when tensioned, the strap path being between the entry and exit points and across the backing; a resilient member projecting from the backing into the strap path, the resilient member adopting a first, free state in the absence of strap tension in which the strap is deflected away from the backing and a second state in the presence of strap tension in which the resilient member is deflected towards the backing as the tension in the strap urges the strap towards the backing; indicating means for indicating whether the resilient member is in the first state or the second state according to strap tension, the indicating means being adapted to indicate at least absence of tension and the presence of desired tension in the strap.
Whilst it can be envisaged that the strap entry and exit points may allow the untensioned strap to separate from the pad, in a preferred embodiment, the pad includes elements extending over the strap on its side opposite from the backing to hold the pad on the strap.
The backing may extend continuously between the strap entry and exit points. Alternatively, it may be apertured along its length. The strap biassing member may comprise a resilient member of Y or V configuration, with one limb (and the Y stem when provided) against or incorporated in a backing member and the other limb extending obliquely away from the backing. This other limb can project upwards or downwards in use and is urged towards the first limb by a tensioned strap acting on its distal end. Whilst the shoulder pad may be rectilinear, it can also be at least partially concave, whereby the projecting limb is deflected against the one limb by a predetermined tension. In practice this tension is low, typically 5 to 10 Newtons. This is because what is important is not so much that the strap should be tensioned to an appreciable degree, which can cause discomfort to a user, but that there should be no slack in the strap.
Absence of slack avoids the user being thrown forwards in an unrestrained manner at the beginning of an accident. Pre-tensioning of the strap can act to limit a user's movement, but for pre-tensioning to have a significant effect it is liable to be required to a level in excess of anything that is going to be comfortable for a child or indeed other user.
The resilient member can be of any suitable material, for example metallic, either a bent double leaf or a clothes peg configured spring. However, it is preferred that it is a plastics material spring, typically a V or Y section moulding of an engineering grade polymer. The indicating means can be mechanical and visual on the one hand and electrical/electronic and visual/audio on the other hand. With a mechanical indicator, it is conceivable that an indicator scale projecting away from the backing could be provided. In one example, the indicator extends in the direction of the backing and the strap runs along it. For converting fore-shόrtening movement of the distal end of the resilient limb towards the backing into- such movement, an indicating link can be provided. The indicating link can be pivoted to the distal end and guided along the indicator scale on the backing. The indicating scale may have graduations; it may also have a single indicia, for example a single colour area which is obscured when the resilient limb is pulled against the backing.
In the electric/electronic alternative, the backing/stationary limb and the resilient limb can be provided with a proximity switch arranged to change state on approach of the resilient limb corresponding to the predetennined strap tension. A bicolour LED can be provided for indicating this desired change of state. A strain gauge can be provided on the resilient limb. It can be arranged to drive a bicolour LED or indeed three LEDs, a first indicating slack, a second indicating partial tension and a third indicating desired tension. The LED circuitry can be switched
- on by coupling of the harness buckle and timed to extinguish the LED(s) after a couple of minutes, this being the expected time for strap tension adjustments. In addition to use of a switch in the harness buckle, it can also be envisaged that any of a variety of seat occupancy detectors can be used such as a microswitch or a capacitative switch in the seat.
To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoulder pad with a tension indicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the shoulder pad of figure 1, with a shoulder strap shown in outline;
Figure 3 is a similar view to that of figure 2, with two electrical variants shown.
Referring to the drawings, the shoulder pad comprises a base or body moulding 1, a resilient moulding (resilient member) 2 and an indicator moulding 3, together with an attachment strap 4, the pad being fitted to a shoulder strap 5 of a harness, otherwise not shown. The base and indicator mouldings 1,3 are of conventional grade polypropylene, whilst the resilient moulding 2 is of engineering grade polymer such as nylon.
The base moulding is generally curved to a shape able to conform readily to the contour of a clothed user's shoulder. The age and stature of the user can differ and the thickness of the user's clothing can vary from for example a summer shirt to a relatively thick winter coat. Accordingly, the base moulding is designed to be flexible with low resilience. It is generally strip like from upper end 11 to lower end 12. Across its upper end, it has a slot 14 to enable the attachment strap 4 to be stitched in a loop extending through the slot. Inwards of each end, the moulding has a strap guide 15,16 formed at a mould cavity projection from the back surface 17 of the pad. Thus the strap 5 can be threaded through apertures 18 formed in the moulding. Along the edges of the base, conveniently formed in upstanding flanges 19 are formed grooves 20.
The resilient moulding is generally Y shaped in side view, with one limb 21 extending in contact with the base moulding and welded to it at 22. The other limb 23 is free at its distal end 24. The arrangement is such that as the end is depressed towards the other limb and the base, the distal end moves away from the upper end 11 and towards the lower end 12.
The indicator moulding is generally U shaped, having two arms 25 and a foot 26. The distal ends of the arms have hollow bosses 27, which engage over pegs 28 moulded integrally with the end 24 of the resilient member. The ends 27 of the foot have in-turned fingers 28 which slidably engage with the grooves 20. The arrangement is such that as the limb 21 is depressed, the foot moves towards the end 12. The base is marked with a "good" marking 31 and a "bad" marking 32. When the latter is visible, the shoulder strap is too slack. When only the former is visible, the shoulder strap is adequately tensioned. Figure 1 shows an intermediate position in which both markings are partially visible.
The shoulder strap 5 passes thraugh the strap guides 15,16 and over the end 24 of the resilient moulding. The latter deflects the strap from a straight run between the guides. As the strap is tensioned, the resilient end is depressed and the "bad" marking 32 is progressively obscured until only the "good" marking 31 remains visible at the flanges 19, between which the strap passes. Thus the parent of a child strapped in can know when the strap is correctly tensioned. Referring to Figure 3, the indicator moulding 3 and the markings 31,32 are replaced by a proximity switch 51 arranged between the resilient limbs 21,23. A red NO-GO LED 52 and a green GO LED 53 are positioned on the flange 19 of the base moulding. Other circuitry, including a battery, is not shown. Its configuration is believed to be within the capabilities of the man skilled in that art and as such is not described. The circuit is switched on when the harness buckle is coupled, where a switch is provided in the buckle, or by a child's presence in the seat being first detected, where a seat occupancy switch is provided. The red LED is illuminated.
As the shoulder strap is tensioned, the free limb is depressed towards its counterpart and the proximity switch causes the LEDs to change state, i.e. the red to extinguish and the green to illuminate, indicating adequate tension.
Figure 3 also shows an alternative, namely a strain gauge 61 on the resilient limb and additional LEDs 62,63. Thus progressive tensioning of the strap can be monitored.
The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, the two red and green LEDs can be replaced with a single bicolour LED.

Claims

Claims :
1. A tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness, the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad body member having a shoulder strap path provided therethrough, a strap biassing member arranged to be resiliently biassed into the shoulder strap path, the strap biassing member having a first state where the shoulder strap path is interrupted, the strap biassing member being movable away from said first state to a second state in the presence of a tensioned shoulder strap, and indicating means for indicating whether the strap biassing member is in the first state or the second state.
2. A tension indicator according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder pad body member comprises inlet and outlet guide elements for guiding a shoulder strap along said shoulder strap path through said tension indicator.
3. A tension indicator according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the strap biassing member acts on an indicator element, which is slidably mounted on said shoulder pad body member.
4. A tension indicator according to claim 3, wherein movement of the strap biassing member between the first and second states results in a sliding movement of the indicator element between two positions.
5. A tension indicator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a switch is provided which can be actuated by the sliding movement of the indicator element to produce a separate visual or audible signal as to the position of the strap biassing member.
6. A tension indicator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein in the first state, the indicator element is raised above the profile of the shoulder pad body element, thereby indicating that' the shoulder strap is not correctly tensioned.
7. A tension indicator according to any preceding claim, wherein the strap biassing member is moveable from its first state to its second state by a strap tension exerting a force of between 5 and 10 Newtons.
8. A shoulder pad for positioning between a restraint harness strap and a user, the pad having defined therethrough a strap path, wherein a tension indicator is incorporated around said strap path for indicating whether a strap passing through the shoulder pad is correctly tensioned.
9. A pad according to claim 8, wherein -a strap biassing member is configured for interrupting the strap path for deflecting a restraint harness strap accommodated in the strap path.
10. A pad according to claim 9, wherein the strap biassing member is moveable to a position outside the strap path by a restraint harness strap being accommodated in the strap path at less than a predetermined tension.
11. A tension indicator for indicating tension in a restraint harness by reference to shoulder strap tension, the tension indicator comprising: a shoulder pad for providing a shoulder strap path therethrough, the pad including points at opposite ends thereof for entry of a strap to and exit of the strap from the pad and, a backing against which the strap lies when 5 tensioned, the strap path being between the entry and exit points and across the backing; a resilient member' projecting from the backing into the strap path, the resilient member adopting a first, free state in the absence of strap tension in which the strap is 10 deflected away from the backing and a second state in the presence of strap tension in which the resilient member is deflected towards the backing as the tension in the strap urges the strap towards the backing; indicating means for indicating whether the resilient
15 member is in the first state or the second state according to strap tension, the indicating means being adapted to indicate at least absence of tension and the presence of desired tension in the strap.
20 12. A tension indicator according to claim 11, wherein the shoulder pad has elements extending over the strap on its side opposite from the backing to hold the pad on the strap.
13. A tension indicator substantially as hereinbefore 25 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A shoulder pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
EP05811548A 2004-12-01 2005-12-01 Tension indicator Withdrawn EP1828734A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0426357.0A GB0426357D0 (en) 2004-12-01 2004-12-01 Tension indicator
PCT/GB2005/004608 WO2006059114A1 (en) 2004-12-01 2005-12-01 Tension indicator

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EP1828734A1 true EP1828734A1 (en) 2007-09-05

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EP (1) EP1828734A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2008521702A (en)
CN (1) CN101080620A (en)
GB (1) GB0426357D0 (en)
RU (1) RU2007125617A (en)
WO (1) WO2006059114A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RU2007125617A (en) 2009-01-10
WO2006059114A9 (en) 2006-08-10
CN101080620A (en) 2007-11-28
JP2008521702A (en) 2008-06-26
WO2006059114A1 (en) 2006-06-08
GB0426357D0 (en) 2005-01-05

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