Harness tension sensor and crash occurrence sensor

Abstract

A child safety device for a vehicle including a seat including a shell, a harness including at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat, and a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell indicating a tension status of the harness.

1 . A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:
 (a) a seat comprising a shell;   (b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat; and   (c) a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness is sufficiently tensioned.   
   
   
       2 . A child safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the harness comprises shoulder straps and a crotch strap. 
   
   
       3 . A child safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the device on the strap comprises a strap buckle or slide. 
   
   
       4 . A child safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is positioned on a shell bottom. 
   
   
       5 . A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:
 (a) a seat comprising a shell;   (b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat; and   (c) a sensor including crushable members between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness has been severely tensioned.   
   
   
       6 . A child safety device according to  claim 5  wherein the crushable members are calibrated to crush at 500-700 pounds of load. 
   
   
       7 . A child safety device according to  claim 5  wherein the crushable members comprise ribs or thin walls. 
   
   
       8 . A child safety device according to  claim 5  wherein the sensor is a one use, one way type. 
   
   
       9 . A child safety device for a vehicle, comprising:
 (a) a seat comprising a shell;   (b) a harness comprising at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat;   (c) a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness is sufficiently tensioned; and   (d) a sensor including crushable members between the device on the strap and the seat shell for indicating whether the harness has been severely tensioned.   
   
   
       10 . A child safety device according to  claim 9  wherein both sensors are positioned under the seat shell.