From: glen@slate.cs.wisc.edu (Glen Ecklund)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Portable Carseat?--info needed!
Date: 7 Apr 92 19:48:42 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison -- Computer Sciences Dept.

In article <1992Apr6.095353.1558@merrimack.edu> geoffrion@merrimack.edu writes:
>Approximately a month (?) ago, someone posted a message about a portable
>car seat that consisted of a 5-point restraint attached to a back plate
>for the seat belt.  It was being marketed as ideal for air travel.
>(Guess who's taking a trip?)  I've been to my local "Toys-R-Us" and they
>have a vague idea that the thing exists, but can't find it.  
>Can anyone give me any more info on it?  Particularly the manufacturer and
>where it may be available in the Boston area.

I saved a couple of old posts.
We haven't gotten around to trying ours out yet, but we are about to
use it on a plane trip.

===================================
>
>-Auto Saftey vest: a four-point harness for 25 to 40 pound children.
>The regular lap belt goes through the back of the harness along a 
>'stress plate'.  Meets all auto and saftey standards.  $49.95.
>
>One Step Ahead, 800-344-9550 M-F 8-5 CST.  (I got this catalogue last
>week, I've never ordered anything from these folks and know nothing
>about them beyond the catalogue.)
>
>	anneli
>
>
>-- 
>Anneli Meyer		"Adults are obsolete children,
>MIPS Computer Systems	and the hell with them."
>Sunnyvale CA 94086		-Dr. Seuss
>
>
>From uwvax!zazen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!orchard.la.locus.com!devnet.la.locus.com!judy Wed Oct 23 17:00:49 1991
>
>In article <10288@spim.mips.COM> anneli@mips.com (Anneli Meyer) writes:
>>
>>-Auto Saftey vest: a four-point harness for 25 to 40 pound children.
>>The regular lap belt goes through the back of the harness along a 
>>'stress plate'.  Meets all auto and saftey standards.  $49.95.
>
>We have the Auto Safety Vest and so I thought I'd share our opinion of it.
>It is WONDERFUL for airplane travel because it is very light and you can
>buckle it onto your carryon luggage.  
>
>However, for regular car travel it has distinct disadvantages:
>
>	1) It takes quite a while to get the seat belt into the
>	   safety plate.  If you have a shoulder harness, it is
>	   a lesson in frustration since you have to thread each
>	   belt separately - i.e., you are threading four straps
>	   through a tiny little opening in the back.
>
>	2) There are three buckles and a velcro strap involved in
>	   hooking the child into (and out of) the harness.  Two
>	   of the buckles are to the leg strap which is a continuous
>	   piece of webbing.  The buckles fall off almost everytime
>	   I go to fasten them.  And it is often hard to find both
>	   leg straps (once one strap had gotten wedged between the
>	   harness and the safety plate).  Since the straps are a single
>	   continuous piece of webbing, just fastening one of the legs
>	   won't work.  (The leg buckles are designed to keep the child
>	   from sliding out of the harness).
>
>	3) The position for the seatbelt is halfway up the safety plate.
>	   What this means is that both child and harness slide down
>	   into a slouching position easily.  It doesn't look like a very
>	   safe position in a serious accident.
>
>In general, this is an excellent idea and a mediocre implementation.  Since
>I am very fond of the idea, I suggested getting another one for Erin (we
>only use the harness in the jumpseat of my two seater convertible (i.e.,
>the jump seat is not for adult sized passengers at all).  Ron's comment was,
>"I only use this because I own it.  I will never buy another one.  You want
>something other than a car seat, find something that works."
>
>Of course, even he loves it for the airplane.  
>
>
>
>-- 
>Judy Leedom Tyrer
>"Comedy is one thing you can do badly and no one will laugh at you."
>
>
-- 
Glen Ecklund             glen@cs.wisc.edu          (608) 262-5084
Department of Computer Sciences        1210 W. Dayton St.
University of Wisconsin, Madison       Madison, Wis. 53706  U.S.A.