STRAP INDICATOR

Abstract

The invention is an indicator means on a strap to provide a means of showing when slack in the strap is removed and/or tension is applied to the strap. The strap is secured with respect to an object at one end and to an anchor point at the other end and the indicator means shows visually that the strap has at least had all slack removed therefrom and where the indicator means is arranged to provide an indication from both sides of the strap to allow a visual indication of tension regardless of which direction the strap extends away from the object.

Claims

1. An indicator means on a strap, where the strap is secured with respect to an object at one end and to an anchor point at the other end and where the indicator means shows that the strap has at least had all slack removed therefrom, wherein the indicator means provides an indication from both sides of the strap to allow an indication of tension regardless of which direction the strap extends away from the object.

2. An indicator means according to claim 1 further comprising tension indicator portions positioned on both sides of the strap which become visible once the required tension is applied to the strap.

3. An indicator means on a strap according to claim 2 further including an elastic member which has its ends secured to the tether strap so that a bite of the tether strap loops between the ends of the elastic member, the elastic member acting to pull the indicator portions out of view when no tension is applied to the strap but which allow the indicator portions to come into view once tension is applied to the strap.

4. An indicator means according to claim 3 wherein the indicator portions are a colour different to the colour of the strap.

5. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat, the tether strap being used on a safety seat to secure the head end of the safety seat with respect to a motor vehicle, comprising: a tether strap secured to the head end of the safety seat and an anchor point, wherein the tether strap extends from both sides of the head end of the safety seat to the anchor point, and tension indicator portions on both sides of a portion of the tether strap where the tension indicator portions move between a concealed position when no tension is applied to the tether strap and a revealed position when tension is applied to the tether strap.

6. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to claim 5 wherein tension indicator portions are positioned on the tether strap on one side of the safety seat.

7. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to claim 5 wherein tension indicator portions are positioned on the tether strap on both sides of the safety seat.

8. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to either claim 6 further including an elastic member which has its ends secured to the tether strap so that a bite of the tether strap loops between the ends of the elastic member, the elastic member acting to pull the indicator portions out of view when no tension is applied to the strap but which allow the indicator portions to come into view once tension is applied to the strap.

9. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to claim 8 wherein the tether strap is secured to the safety seat within the head end of the safety seat and where the head end of the safety seat has a slot on each side through which the tether strap passes, the indicator portions being within the head end of the safety seat when no tension is applied to the tether strap and moving out past the slot and into view when tension is applied to the tether strap.

10. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat, the tether strap being used on a safety seat to secure the head end of the safety seat with respect to a motor vehicle, comprising: a tether strap secured to the head end of the safety seat and an anchor point, wherein the tether strap extends from both sides of the head end of the safety seat to the anchor point, and tension indicator means on the tether strap where the tension indicator means shows that the strap has at least had all slack removed therefrom, wherein the indicator means provides an indication from both sides of the strap.

11. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to claim 10 wherein the tension indicator means is positioned on the tether strap on one side of the safety seat.

12. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat according to claim 10 wherein tension indicator portions are positioned on the tether strap on both sides of the safety seat.

13. An indicator means on a tether strap for a child safety seat, the tether strap being used on a safety seat to secure the head end of the safety seat with respect to a motor vehicle, comprising: a tether strap secured to the head end of the safety seat and an anchor point, wherein the tether strap extends from the head end of the safety seat to the anchor point, and tension indicator means on the tether strap where the tension indicator means shows that the strap has at least had all slack removed therefrom, wherein the indicator means provides an indication from both sides of the strap to allow an indication of tension regardless of which direction the strap extends away from the child safety seat.

14. A child safety seat having an indicator means on a tether strap in accordance with claim 5.

15. A tether strap for a child safety seat having an indicator means in accordance with claim 5.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] This embodiment is illustrated in the following drawings in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a head end of a safety seat including a tether strap attached in accordance with one embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a safety seat installed on a motor vehicle seat in a forward facing position;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a safety seat installed on a motor vehicle seat in a rearward facing position;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the head end of a safety seat about line 4-4 from FIG. 2; and

[0026] FIGS. 5a and 5b show an elastic member secured to a tether strap with an attached tension indicator portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0027] In FIG. 1, a safety seat 10 has a tether strap 11 secured at its head end. In this embodiment, the tether strap 11 extends through apertures 13 that are located in the side wings 12 of the safety seat 10 with the tether strap 11 being secured to the safety seat 10 within its head end. The safety seat 10 is moulded from polypropylene and is a unitary moulding having a wall thickness of between 3 mm-5 mm. However, it will be appreciated that other materials and manufacturing methods could be used such as solid moulding in polystyrene foam, vacuum forming and blow moulding.

[0028] The tether strap 11 comprises a length of webbing that extends away from either side of the safety seat 10. Two portions of the tether strap 11 are joined by an adjustable connector 16 which allows the length of the tether strap 11 to be adjusted. A latch connector 17 is slidably attached by locating the tether strap 11 through aperture 18. The latch connector 17 enables the tether strap 11 to be secured with respect to an anchorage location (not shown) on a motor vehicle parcel shelf. Once the latch connector 17 is attached to the anchorage location, the length of the tether strap 11 can be adjusted via adjustable connector 16 to securely hold the safety seat 10 with respect to the motor vehicle seat.

[0029] It is important that all slack is removed from the tether strap 11 and that adequate tension is applied to the tether strap in order to ensure safe installation of the safety seat 10. The invention as described below will provide a means of visually indicating when all slack is removed through adequate tension being applied to the tether strap 11.

[0030] As seen in FIG. 1, the tether strap 11 is secured to the backrest portion 14 of the safety seat 10 via the combination of a three bar slide 20 and a two bar slide 20a. On either side of the slides 20 and 20a, and still behind the backrest 14, elastic members 21 are secured to the tether strap 11 so that a bite or loop 22 is formed in the tether strap 11. Each end of each elastic member 21 is secured by being stitched to the tether strap 11. The elastic member 21 may comprise a rubber or elasticated strap or elastomeric member. When the elastic member 21 is in its relaxed state, the loop 22 is held in position. As tension is applied to the tether strap, the elastic member 21 stretches and the loop 22 straightens. This results in the tether strap 11 extending out of the slots 13. This in turn reveals indicator portions 23 that are held behind the backrest 14 and before the slots 13. Accordingly, the tension indicator portions 23 are hidden when the tether strap 11 is in an untensioned relaxed state, but are revealed once tension is applied to the tether strap 11 and the loops 22 straighten. In this embodiment, the indicator means comprises the combination of elastic member 21, the loop 22 and the indicator portions 23.

[0031] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the safety seat 10 installed in two different orientations on a motor vehicle seat 8. FIG. 2 shows a forward facing configuration and FIG. 3 shows a rear facing configuration. In the forward facing configuration, the tether strap 11 extends rearwardly of the head end of the safety seat 10. In the rear facing configuration shown in FIG. 3, the tether strap 11 extends forwardly of the head end of the safety seat 10. By placing the indicator portions 23 on both sides of the tether strap 11, a visual indication is provided in both configurations of the safety seat 10.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of the head end of the safety seat 10 about line 4-4 in FIG. 2. It shows the tether strap 11 secured by the two slides 20 and 20a and the tether strap 11 extending out of apertures 13 in the wall of the safety seat 10. The elastic members 21 are located within the safety seat 10 between the apertures 13. They are secured at each end to the tether strap 11 to form loop portions 22. In the relaxed state, as shown in FIG. 4, the elastic members 21 hold the tether strap in a position shown. The indicator portions 23 on each side of the tether strap 11 (not shown in FIG. 4) are held within the safety seat 10 between the apertures 13 and are therefore not visible.

[0033] Once tension is applied to the tether strap 11 the elastic members 21 are stretched and the loop portions 22 of the tether strap 11 straighten allowing for the portion of the tether strap 11 holding the indication portions 23 to extend out of the apertures 13. Once this occurs, the indicator portions 23 become visible. As the indicator portions 23 are on each side of the tether strap 11, they will be visible when the safety seat 10 is in either the forward or rearward configuration.

[0034] FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternative construction for incorporating the elastic members 21 into the tether strap 11. In this embodiment, the tether strap 11 between the apertures 13 comprises a sandwich of two strap elements with the elastic member 21 stitched between the two strap elements to create a loop portion 22 on either side of the elastic member 21. As seen in FIG. 5a, the elastic member 21 is stitched at 24 at each end to be held between the strap elements that are part of the tether strap 11. The indicator portions 23 are positioned at one side of the loop portions 22 and FIG. 5b illustrates the tether strap 11 with tension showing the movement of the indicator portion 23.

[0035] The elastic members 21 may comprise elasticated fabric, but also may comprise a strip of elastomeric material such as rubber. In addition, metal springs may also be substituted and work equally as well.

[0036] The location of the indicator portions 23 on either side of the tether strap ensure that a visual indication is provided once tension is applied to the tether strap regardless of the direction that the tether strap leads away from the safety seat 10. The elastic member 21 has sufficient tension to ensure that it will not commence stretching until tension is placed into the tether strap 11. In this way, a visual indication is provided once all slack is removed and will assist in ensuring correct installation of the child safety seat 10.

[0037] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words comprise and include and variations such as comprising and including will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0038] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0039] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.