Patent ID: 7188898
Filing Date: 2007-03-13
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A child restraint system for transporting a child occupant within an automotive vehicle, said child having a body within a recommended size range, comprising: a harness for restraining the child occupant within the child restraint system, said harness comprising a belt; a shell defining a compartment for receiving the child occupant; said shell comprising a first slot positioning said belt for restraining a child having a first size and a second slot for positioning said belt for restraining a child having a second size greater than said first size; a first belt sensor for detecting said belt within the first slot and providing a first belt location signal; a second belt sensor for detecting said belt within said second slot and providing a second belt location signal; at least one proximity sensor for sensing a presence of the body of the child occupant and providing a child size signal indicative of the presence of the body adjacent to the at least one proximity sensor, said proximity sensor being disposed at a predetermined location relative to one of said first slot and said second slot to sense the body in proximity thereto; and a control unit coupled to the first belt sensor, the second belt sensor and the proximity sensor for receiving the first belt location signal, the second belt location signal and the child size signal, said control unit adapted to determine a belt location based upon the first belt location signal and the second belt location signal, to determine a recommended belt location based upon the child size signal, and to issue an alert signal if the belt location is not the recommended belt location.