JP2008521702A - Tension indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tension indicator capable of displaying a tension state of a strap of a child safety seat, particularly a tension state of a shoulder strap.
A shoulder pad main body provided with a path for a shoulder strap of a child safety seat; and disposed on the shoulder pad main body, wherein the shoulder strap is moved to a first position or a second position according to a tension state of the shoulder strap. A tension indicator used for a shoulder pad provided with an elastic member which can be set to a position, wherein the first position or the second position of the shoulder strap with respect to the shoulder pad main body is displayed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a tension indicator that indicates the tension of a shoulder strap of a passenger car seat, and more particularly to a tension indicator that displays a tension state acting on a child harness.

  In a child restraint system of an automobile such as a child seat attached to an adult seat of a passenger car, a harness strap for holding the child (seedee) in the seat and / or a strap for attaching the seat to the vehicle is put in tension (tension). There is a need. To obtain tension with conventional straps, there is an embodiment in which individual straps, in particular shoulder straps, are attached to and pull out a central strap that tensions them. On the other hand, a mode in which a tension state is achieved by tightening the strap with a conventional strap adjuster and / or a belt device incorporated in the child seat is often employed.

  In the above-described conventional aspect, there is no means by which the user can evaluate the tension state of the strap other than feeling sensibly.

  Also, despite having a central strap for tensioning the child's harness, the actual tension of individual straps, particularly the shoulder straps, may not be appropriate. For example, even if a moderate tension is applied to the center strap, a desired shoulder strap tension may not be obtained as a result due to friction at various portions of the harness. On the other hand, the tension of the shoulder strap is more important than the tension of the lap strap and the crotch strap in order to bring the harness into an appropriate tension state in an emergency.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a tension indicator that can display the tension state of a strap of a child safety seat, particularly the tension state of a shoulder strap.

  As used herein, the term “tension indicator” means a device that indicates at least no slack. The term “shoulder strap” means a strap that passes over the user's shoulder to a lap strap with a buckle or to a buckle between the left and right lap straps, and at least European regulations also include a crotch strap. The term “shoulder pad” shall mean a pad on the shoulder strap to distribute the strap load to the user. Typically, the shoulder pad extends over the user's chest and in operation is pulled back to the shoulder by a secondary strap that connects the pad to the shoulder strap anchor point or at least to the structure of the seat to which the shoulder strap is anchored. Shoulder pads are also known as chest pads.

  The present invention provides a shoulder pad main body provided with a path for a shoulder strap of a child safety seat; and disposed on the shoulder pad main body, wherein the shoulder strap is moved to a first position or a second according to a tension state of the shoulder strap. A tension indicator for use in a shoulder pad provided with a position-set elastic member; and displaying the first position or the second position of the shoulder strap with respect to the shoulder pad body. Features.

  Preferably, the shoulder pad body includes an opening for guiding the shoulder strap via the tension indicator.

  Preferably, the tension indicator is slidably mounted on the shoulder pad body, and the elastic member acts on the tension indicator.

  The elastic member is preferably moved between the first position and the second position so that the tension indicator swings with respect to the shoulder pad main body.

  Preferably, a switch is provided that can generate a visual or audible signal regarding the position of the elastic member.

  Preferably, the tension indicator in the first position is lifted from the shoulder pad body to indicate that the shoulder strap is not in proper tension.

  The elastic member is preferably movable from the first position to the second position by a tension of 5 to 10 Newton acting on the shoulder strap.

  The present invention relates to a shoulder pad that is in contact with a shoulder of a seat of a child safety seat, wherein the shoulder pad defines a path of the shoulder strap of the child safety seat, and the shoulder strap has an appropriate tension in the path. It is characterized by providing a tension indicator that indicates whether or not it is in a state.

  It is preferable that an elastic member for deflecting the shoulder strap with respect to the path is disposed on the shoulder pad.

  In a low tension state, it is preferable that the elastic member moves out of the strap path.

  The present invention also provides a shoulder pad body that defines a path for the shoulder strap between an inlet opening and an outlet opening through which the shoulder strap passes; and when the shoulder strap is not in a predetermined tension state, An elastic member that is moved to a first position with respect to the pad main body, and that moves the shoulder strap to a second position with respect to the shoulder pad main body when the shoulder strap is in a predetermined tension state. A tension indicator used for a shoulder pad, wherein the first position or the second position of the shoulder strap with respect to the shoulder pad main body is displayed, or at least the shoulder pad is in a tension state. Whether or not is displayed.

  In the shoulder pad, it is preferable that an element for holding the shoulder pad on the shoulder strap is provided on a surface opposite to the surface in contact with the shoulder of the seated person.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a tension indicator having a simple structure capable of displaying the tension state of the strap of the child safety seat, particularly the tension state of the shoulder strap.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoulder pad includes a pair of shoulder pad main bodies 1 (hereinafter, main body 1), an elastic member 2, a tension indicator 3, and an attachment strap 4 (FIG. 2). Is attached to a shoulder strap 5 (FIG. 2) of the harness. The main body 1 and the tension indicator 3 are made of polypropylene or the like, while the elastic member 2 is made of a polymer such as nylon.

  The main body 1 is curved into a shape that can easily follow the contour of the seated person's shoulder. The age and height of the occupants vary, and the thickness of the garment can vary from, for example, a summer shirt to a relatively thick winter coat. In order to cope with this, the main body 1 is formed in a belt shape extending from the upper end 11 to the lower end 12 having low elasticity and flexibility. A slot 14 is formed in the upper end 11, and the attachment strap 4 is passed through the slot 14 and stitched in a loop shape. Further, strap guides 15 and 16 having openings 18 through which the shoulder strap 5 passes are formed in the vicinity of the upper end 11 and the lower end 12 of the main body 1. Further, an upright flange 19 is formed in each of the pair of main bodies 1, and a groove 20 is formed in the upright flange 19 in which the tension indicator 3 is slidably fitted. This fitting will be described later.

  The elastic member 2 is a substantially Y-shaped member that is formed by a rim 21 and a rim 23 in a side view. More specifically, one rim 21 is welded to the main body 1 at a predetermined location 22 and extends within the outline of the main body 1, and the other rim 23 has an end 24 (Y-shaped tip). Is the free end. When the end 24 is pressed toward the main body 1, the end 24 moves from the upper end 11 toward the lower end 12. The elastic member 2 can be not only the Y shape shown in FIG. 2 but also a V shape, for example.

  The tension indicator 3 is a substantially U-shaped member in plan view, which includes a pair of arm members 25 (hereinafter referred to as arm members 25) and a connecting member 26 coupled to one end of each arm member 25 (FIG. 1). The other end of the arm member 25 is a free end in which a hollow boss 27 is formed. A peg 28 formed integrally with the end 24 of the elastic member 2 is engaged with the hollow boss 27. On the other hand, each end portion of the arm member 25 is formed with a leg portion 29 that fits into the groove 20 formed in the upright flange 19 and holds the tension indicator 3 slidably with respect to the main body 1. Yes. As for each leg part 29, the mutually opposing edge part is parallel to the connection member 26, and is extended predetermined length toward the center of the longitudinal direction of a shoulder pad. When the end 24 of the rim 23 is pressed toward the main body 1, the connecting member 26 moves toward the end 12.

  A defect (bad) indicating that the shoulder strap 5 of the harness is in an inappropriate tension state (first position) on the upper surface of each upright flange 19 of the main body 1 that is orthogonal to the surface on which the groove 20 is formed. ) Mark 32 and a good mark 31 indicating that the tension is in an appropriate tension state (second position). For example, when the good mark 31 is visually recognized, the tension state of the shoulder strap 5 is appropriate, and when the bad mark 32 is visually recognized, the shoulder strap 5 is too slack. ing. Note that the state shown in FIG. 1 shows an intermediate tension state in which the good (good) mark 31 and the bad (bad) mark 32 are partially visually recognized.

  The shoulder strap 5 extends from the upper end 11 to the lower end 12 of the main body 1 while penetrating the strap guides 15 and 16 and in contact with the end 24 of the elastic member 2 (FIG. 2). That is, the shoulder strap 5 is deviated from the path between the strap guides 15 and 16 by the end portion 24 (elastic force thereof) of the elastic member 2. When the shoulder strap 5 is in a predetermined tension state, the end 24 of the elastic member 2 is pressed, the bad mark 32 is gradually hidden, and only the proper mark 31 is visible. . In this manner, the operator can check the tension state of the shoulder strap 5.

Next, another embodiment of the shoulder pad will be described with reference to FIG.
In this embodiment, the tension indicator 3, the good (good) mark 31 and the bad (bad) mark 32 are collected in the switch 51 disposed between the elastic rims 21 and 23 constituting the elastic member 2. . A red “NO-GOOD” LED 52 corresponding to a bad (bad) mark 32 and a green “GOOD” LED 53 corresponding to a good (good) mark 31 are arranged on the upright flange 19 of the main body 1. Since known circuits and the like including the battery can be used, the description thereof is omitted. Then, when the harness buckle is coupled or when the presence of a child is detected on the seat, the circuit is turned on, and the red “NO-GOOD” LED 52 is lit (initial state).

  When the shoulder strap 5 enters the tension state from the initial state described above, when the end 24 of the rim 23 is pressed toward the main body 1 and contacts the switch 51, the red “NO-GOOD” LED 52 is turned off and the green “ “GOOD” LED 53 lights up. Thereby, it can be visually recognized that the shoulder strap 5 is in an appropriate tension state.

  In FIG. 3, a strain gauge 61 is arranged on the upper surface of the rim 23 from the other embodiments described above, and additional LEDs 62 and 63 are arranged on the upright flange 19 of the body 1. ing. With this configuration, a gradual change in the tension state of the shoulder strap 5 can be visually recognized.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, two red and green LEDs may be replaced with a single two-color LED.

It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a shoulder pad with a tension indicator concerning the present invention. 2 is a side view of the shoulder pad of FIG. 1 with a shoulder strap shown in outline. FIG. It is a perspective view showing other embodiments of a shoulder pad with a tension indicator concerning the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 A pair of shoulder pad bodies (shoulder pad bodies)
2 Elastic member 3 Tension indicator 5 Shoulder strap

Claims (14)

A shoulder pad body provided with a shoulder strap pathway for the child safety seat;
An elastic member disposed on the shoulder pad main body, and comprising an elastic member capable of setting the shoulder strap to a first position or a second position in accordance with a tension state of the shoulder strap. And
A tension indicator used for a shoulder pad, characterized by displaying the first position or the second position of the shoulder strap with respect to the shoulder pad main body.   The tension indicator used in the shoulder pad according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder pad body includes an opening for guiding the shoulder strap through the tension indicator.   The tension indicator used for the shoulder pad according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tension indicator is slidably mounted on the shoulder pad main body, and the elastic member acts on the tension indicator.   The tension used for the shoulder pad according to claim 3, wherein the tension indicator swings with respect to the shoulder pad body by the elastic member moving between the first position and the second position. display.   The tension indicator used for the shoulder pad according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a switch capable of generating a visual or audible signal regarding the position of the elastic member.   6. The shoulder according to claim 3, wherein the tension indicator is lifted from the shoulder pad body in the first position to indicate that the shoulder strap is not in an appropriate tension state. Tension indicator used for putting.   The shoulder pad according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elastic member is movable from the first position to the second position by a tension of 5 Newton to 10 Newton acting on the shoulder strap. Tension indicator used.   A shoulder pad in contact with a shoulder of a child safety seat occupant, wherein the shoulder pad defines a path of a shoulder strap of the child safety seat, and the shoulder strap is in an appropriate tension state in the path. A shoulder pad provided with a tension indicator indicating whether or not.   The shoulder pad according to claim 8, wherein an elastic member that deflects the shoulder strap with respect to the path is disposed on the shoulder pad.   The shoulder pad according to claim 9, wherein the elastic member moves out of the strap path in a low tension state. A shoulder pad body defining a path for the shoulder strap between an inlet opening and an outlet opening through which the shoulder strap passes;
When the shoulder strap is not in a predetermined tension state, the shoulder strap is moved to a first position with respect to the shoulder pad body, and when the shoulder strap is in a predetermined tension state, the shoulder strap is moved to the shoulder position. A tension indicator used for a shoulder pad comprising: an elastic member that is moved to a second position relative to a pad body;
The tension that displays the first position or the second position of the shoulder strap with respect to the shoulder pad main body, or displays whether or not at least the shoulder pad is in tension. display.   The tension indicator according to claim 11, further comprising an element for holding the shoulder pad on the shoulder strap on a surface of the shoulder pad that faces the surface that contacts the shoulder of the seated person.   A tension indicator substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.   A shoulder pad substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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